- BGG rating
- 7.4
Secret Societies: Lycans
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,492
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Secret Societies
2026
Rules assistance for Secret Societies
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 13+
- Complexity 3.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Secret Societies
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Secret Societies is a board game released in 2026 for 2–5 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by S J Macdonald and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Auction / Bidding.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Secret Societies: Merica
- 2–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 2026
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The Flow of History
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About the game
For centuries Earth’s Secret Societies have waged a hidden war vying for control of the world’s territories. But now, a final truce has been agreed: one auction will decide it all. Don’t be fooled, this is no friendly peace. Each society will do everything in their power to sway the balance of the auction in their favour. Those who are successful will be able to harness the already existing industry of their countries for their own enrichment or set the citizens to work on their own nefarious projects! The time has come… Who will control the Earth when the final hammer falls? The aim of Secret Societies is to gain the most Power by outbidding and outsmarting your opponents to establish your institute as the one most deserving of total governance. Step into the role of a highly unique Secret Society, equipped with various tools and abilities to help give you the edge over the competition. Over 7 Rounds you will gain Income, Bid for Deeds, deploy Agents, start Projects, make Investments, and seek to control the all-important Conferences. Not all lands are created equal! It will be your task to utilise your unique skills and advantages to claim the Deeds that best suit your agenda. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Garphill Games
Questions and answers
Secret Societies supports 2–5 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 Secret Societies is 90–120 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 Secret Societies for ages 13 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.
Secret Societies has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Secret Societies belongs to these categories: Economic and Spies / Secret Agents. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Set Collection, and Auction / Bidding. 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 Secret Societies are: S J Macdonald. 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 Secret Societies 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.