- BGG rank
- BGG #4,896
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Horizons
- 2–5 players
- 60–75 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,911
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Ruse
2014
Rules assistance for Ruse
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Ruse
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ruse is a board game released in 2014 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Levi Mote and Sarah Sharp and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Memory, and Storytelling.
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About the game
A murder has been committed in the Victorian steampunk city of St. Sebastian. You have made the short list of police suspects and the only way to retain your freedom is to prove that one of the others on the list is in fact the murderous culprit. Players take turns making Accusations against the other players by placing Method, Motive, or Opportunity cards in front of them or providing Alibis against the Accusations made against them by other players. You must remember what has been played and craft your Accusations well to pin the murder on another player. Ruse uses cards with specialized suits and amazing steampunk artwork to tell the story of murder and mayhem under the gaslights of St. Sebastian. As a bonus, the deck may also be used to play all of your favorite traditional card games.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Game Salute
- Bonsai Entertainment
Questions and answers
Ruse 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 Ruse is 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 Ruse 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.
Ruse has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
Ruse belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Murder / Mystery. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Memory, and Storytelling. 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 Ruse are: Levi Mote and Sarah Sharp. 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 Ruse 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.