
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,061
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Channel WON
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2023

1990
Rules assistance for Red Empire
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Red Empire is a board game released in 1990 for 3–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Frank Chadwick and its main mechanics are Open Drafting and Semi-Cooperative Game.
Each player is given a different assortment of cards representing leaders and other important figures in the Soviet Union. As various catastrophes arise, players must cooperate to prevent the Union from collapsing even though they are constantly competing with each other in efforts to maneuver one of their own characters into the role of president. This combination of competition and cooperation makes for an interesting game full of player interaction.
Red Empire supports 3–6 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 Red Empire is 90 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 Red Empire 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.
Red Empire has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Red Empire belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Political. Its main mechanics are Open Drafting and Semi-Cooperative 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 Red Empire are: Frank Chadwick. 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 Red Empire 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.