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Reapers
2021
Rules assistance for Reapers
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Reapers
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Reapers is a board game released in 2021 for 3–5 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Daniel Newman and its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing, Open Drafting, and Trick-taking.
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About the game
Rooted in traditional Trick-taking games like Hearts or Spades, Reapers has some major differences that set it apart: Every hand is drafted from face-up piles of three cards rather than dealt to players. Winners of tricks score the lowest value card in the trick rather than the trick itself as a point. In addition to having four suits, the game also includes two different special cards.* Players place a wager as to how they think they will do in each hand, with options for scoring the fewest points, scoring the second most points, or not trying to predict — all of which can be viable strategies. 1st Edition Necromancy isn't all fun and games, which is why once a month that deadly cabal gathers to blow off steam. Most popular with these nefarious ne'er-do-wells is a card game known as Reapers, and as might be expected the stakes with which they wager are the souls of the damned acquired through their dark dealings. —description from the publisher (*Suits are daggers, poison, plague, and pistols - each related to the method by which the damned souls died — and the two different special cards are called "Reapers" and "Demons".) 2nd Edition “Do you know of the Wild Hunt? It is said to be a portent of war, plague, or possibly the immenent death of whoever witnesses it - their soul destined to join the Hunt. What’s that? You’ve seen them ride? Oh. That’s not good. Ok, here’s what you should do. Gather the skulls of whatever wildlife you can find in the forest. Deer, boar, snakes, ravens - those are their favorites. Perform the cleansing rituals. If you must, search the graveyard. But you must be the reapers, lest you be reaped yourself.” —description from the publisher (*Suits are deer, snake, boar, and raven - each related to one of the preferred types of animal skulls - and the two different special cards are called "Reapers" and "Rituals".)
Designers
Publishers
- New Mill Industries
- Amatsubu Games
Questions and answers
Reapers 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 Reapers 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 Reapers for ages 12 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.
Reapers 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.
Reapers belongs to these categories: Card Game and Horror. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing, Open Drafting, 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 Reapers are: Daniel Newman. 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 Reapers 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.