- BGG rank
- BGG #26,940
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Code Breaker
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1998
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,435
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Sabotage
1963
Rules assistance for Sabotage
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Sabotage
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sabotage is a board game released in 1963 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Robert Abbott and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Pattern Building.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,131
- BGG rating
- 5.5
High Hand
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 1963
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,813
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War
- 2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1992
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,764
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Epaminondas
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1975
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,295
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Eleusis
- 4–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1956
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,272
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Genius Rules
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 1987
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,886
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Code 777
- 2–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1985
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,702
- BGG rating
- 6.3
What's That on My Head?
- 3–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1963
- BGG rank
- BGG #894
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,243
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Hens
- 1–4 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,318
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Sequence
- 2–12 players
- 10–30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 1982
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,191
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Ada's Library
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2003
About the game
Sabotage puts a thematic pipe-building spin on Leopard, from Abbott's New Card Games. Each player has a hand of cards and a playing grid of 3x3 cells. In turn, each player draws and places a card on one of the grids. Most cards can only be placed on a designated cell. For example, 'E'/'5' (Sabotage/Leopard) can only be played into a center cell. A few cards (10-K in Leopard) have special abilities (e.g., wild, cover opponent). Each row, column, and/or diagonal of three like-colored/-suited cards scores points. Players interact by playing cards of the "wrong" suit on their opponents' layouts, while trying to play "good" suits on their own. Re-implemented by: Sabotage Pur
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- franjos Spieleverlag
- dtv (Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag)
- Funk & Wagnalls
- Stein and Day
- Langewiesche-Brandt
Questions and answers
Sabotage supports 2–4 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 Sabotage 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 Sabotage 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.
Sabotage 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.
Sabotage belongs to these categories: Card Game and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Pattern Building. 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 Sabotage are: Robert Abbott. 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 Sabotage 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.