- BGG rank
- BGG #22,645
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Book of Dragons
- 1–8 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,808
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Panic!
2018
Rules assistance for Panic!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Panic!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Panic! is a board game released in 2018 for 2–8 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by James Ernest, Mick Sullivan, and Greg Parsons and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading.
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About the game
Panic! is a card game of commodity trading between the wealthiest of gentlemen. Players attempt to corner the market for the scarcest commodities while dumping or trading the least valuable. Gameplay is fast and entertaining as the market is constantly shifting and your opponents and continually changing the dynamics of the trading floor. Panic! includes three games in one box. Bull Market is a bidding game designed by James Ernest, Greg Parsons and Mick Sullivan in which secret information can make or break your day's excursion to the trading floor. Bear Market, designed by James Ernest, is a fast-playing drafting game in which making the best of what comes your way is key. Inside Traders, designed by Jeff Horger, is a trick-taking variant using the same basic concepts. All of the games rely on a Panic! stage where there is a flurry of dumped commodities when players begin to see what direction the current hand is going. The box includes ninety commodity suit cards, a value tracking board, and nine commodity tokens.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Nothing Now Games
Questions and answers
Panic! supports 2–8 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 Panic! is 30–60 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 Panic! for ages 10 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.
Panic! 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.
Panic! belongs to these categories: Card Game and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading. 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 Panic! are: James Ernest, Mick Sullivan, and Greg Parsons. 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 Panic! 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.