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- BGG #1,819
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Warrior Knights
- 2–6 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,777
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Showbiz
1984
Rules assistance for Showbiz
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 90 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Showbiz
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Showbiz is a board game released in 1984 for 2–8 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Derek Carver and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding and Commodity Speculation.
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About the game
In the game, players take on the roles of theatre managers and must hire performers that will bring in the most money from the public. There are six different styles of performers, and at different times in the game, public opinion will favour different styles. Public preference is determined by dealing out cards from a special deck. The current opinion is always known, and a possible (but not necessarily accurate) forecast of future preferences is also provided. Each turn, public opinion changes (sometimes to match the forecast, and sometimes into something completely random), then players use a bidding system to acquire contracts with performers. Once contracts have been negotiated, profit is calculated depending on how well performers match the public's desires. By the time twelve turns have been played (and possibly one or two turns sooner), the game will come to an end and the player with the highest score is declared the winner. The game was originally published by the designer in 1984 (or earlier). Hexagames published a German edition (which is the only one that handles up to 8 players) in 1988. Avalon Hill published their edition (with very minor changes) in 1990.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hexagames (I)
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Prestige Games
Questions and answers
Showbiz supports 2–8 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 Showbiz 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 Showbiz for ages 8 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.
Showbiz has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Showbiz belongs to these categories: Movies / TV / Radio theme. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding and Commodity Speculation. 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 Showbiz are: Derek Carver. 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 Showbiz 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.