
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,211
- BGG rating
- 6.5
TRUT
- 2–4 players
- 5–15 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1600

2019
Rules assistance for Pope or Nope
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pope or Nope is a board game released in 2019 for 2–6 players, 20–30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Bryce Doubravsky, Jonathann Lackey, Ryan Brown (I), and AJ Gonzalez and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Team-Based Game.
Do evil, that good may come in this fast-paced, take-that card game for 2-6 players. His Holiness Pope Peter II lies on his deathbed. You are among the few Cardinals he trusts to serve as his successor, but you have to earn it by performing good deeds. To complicate things, the other Cardinals won't go down without a fight; they'll do everything they can to sabotage your every move. Pay them back in kind. Before each round, each player is dealt 5 cards. Players play a numbered DEED card to begin. Players then take turns playing one card at a time, or passing. Sabotage deeds in play with CROSS cards, or redeem crossed deeds with deeds of higher value. Additional strategies are created with the use of action cards, or the rare and powerful POPE and NOPE. When all players pass in succession, the round is over and successful deeds are awarded a point. The first to 5 points wins and may don the Papal Mitre.* *sold separately The game can be played in teams, as well as free-for-all. Pool your points and work collaboratively to defeat the opposition. —description from the publisher
Pope or Nope supports 2–6 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 Pope or Nope is 20–30 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 Pope or Nope for ages 14 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.
Pope or Nope has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Pope or Nope belongs to these categories: Card Game, Number, and Renaissance. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Team-Based Game. 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 Pope or Nope are: Bryce Doubravsky, Jonathann Lackey, Ryan Brown (I), and AJ Gonzalez. 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 Pope or Nope 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.