- BGG rank
- BGG #6,481
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Dracula's Feast
- 4–8 players
- 10–15 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,431
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Safe Breaker
2014
Rules assistance for Safe Breaker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 10 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Safe Breaker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Safe Breaker is a board game released in 2014 for 3–6 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Dave Cousins and its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Memory.
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About the game
Safe Breaker (a.k.a. Merkurya) is a simple-to-learn game of memory and deduction! The game consists of 12 objects: six showing colors and six showing numbers. (In the original version of the game, these objects were cards; in newer versions, they're castle towers that stick together magnetically.) Each player receives one color and one number, keeping these values secret since they form that player's combination. Play starts with one player asking the player to the left if they have a certain color and number. If they have either of those values, they say "yes" and they become the next player; otherwise they say "no" and the question passes to the next player to the left to answer. When a player thinks they know an opponent's combination, on their turn they can name that player's color and number. If the guess is correct, that opponent is out of the game and the player gets another turn — but if they're wrong, they are out of the game instead and the wrongly accused opponent now has the next turn. As far as the rules go, that's it! How much do you talk to your opponents? Do you keep quiet or suggest questions for them to ask? Do you remind them who answered what, and if you do, did you remember correctly?! Are you spinning disinformation?
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Smart Zone Games
- HCM Kinzel
- North and South Games
Questions and answers
Safe Breaker 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 Safe Breaker is 10 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 Safe Breaker for ages 7 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.
Safe Breaker has a complexity rating of 1.0 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.
Safe Breaker belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination and Memory. 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 Safe Breaker are: Dave Cousins. 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 Safe Breaker 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.