- BGG rank
- BGG #15,830
- BGG rating
- 6.3
The End Is Nigh
- 2–6 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,874
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Private Die
2016
Rules assistance for Private Die
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Private Die
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Private Die is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jacob Chaney, Sam Schirmer, and Austin Bennett and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
There's a serial killer on the loose, and you're a Private Eye trying to track him down. You and other Private Eyes will take turns questioning witnesses to get clues from them. You can try and feed the witness some information in hopes of jogging their memory, but you risk pushing them too hard. If you aren't careful, the witness will crack and feed you false information, which sets back your investigation. The first detective to collect 15 clues catches the serial killer and solves the case. The first player will reveal a witness card and roll a D10. Add the value of the D10 with the number on the witness card to get the witness value. This represents the stress the witness will be able to endure before cracking. Each player's goal is to get as close to the witness value without going over. Each player in turn order chooses to roll 1-5 of their D6. If their roll turns out lower than desired, the player may pay a clue to roll an additional die to add to the value. If a player exceeds the witness value, the witness cracks under pressure and gives bad information, causing the offending player to lose two clues. After all players have rolled, the player who is closest to the witness value without cracking the witness gains clues equal to the number of dice they rolled. The game ends once any player gets 15 or more clues at the end of a round.
Categories
Publishers
- Mystic Ape Games
Questions and answers
Private Die 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 Private Die is 15 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 Private Die 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.
Private Die has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Private Die belongs to these categories: Dice. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling. 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 Private Die are: Jacob Chaney, Sam Schirmer, and Austin Bennett. 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 Private Die 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.