- BGG rank
- BGG #15,314
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Stem & Branch
- 1–4 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2026
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- BGG #8,755
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Onstage
2024
Rules assistance for Onstage
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Onstage
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Onstage is a board game released in 2024 for 3–5 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Michael Orion and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trick-taking.
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About the game
Onstage is a "must follow" trick-taking game in which you play as a theater company competing for the best performers to join your troupe. By winning tricks, you claim performers onstage. The trump suit is determined by the most valuable performers currently onstage and will change throughout the game as you recruit and manipulate the line of performers. The deck consists of 36 cards, numbered 1-9 for each of the four suits. Each suit has three performers, one each valued at 1, 2, and 3 points, which represent the featured, supporting, and lead actors respectively. The values 1, 4, and 7 of each suit have effects to manipulate the performers onstage and in line, which can change the current trump and scoring opportunities each hand. If at the end of the round, you are the only player with no performer tokens, you claim all the performers currently on stage as your score for the round. Keep one card between each round and put all used performers back in line behind the current line before starting the next hand in the new turn order. After playing an equal number of rounds per player, whoever has the high score wins. In the two-vs-two team variant, partners combine their scores at the end of each round, but they may not discuss their hands during play.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Arcane Wonders
- Ngũ Hành Games
- Rolling Wizards Studio
Questions and answers
Onstage supports 3–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Onstage is 15–30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Onstage for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Onstage has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Onstage belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trick-taking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Onstage are: Michael Orion. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Onstage as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.