
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,339
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Smash Up
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2012

2016
Rules assistance for Smash Up: Cease and Desist
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Smash Up: Cease and Desist is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Paul Peterson and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
Smash Up: Cease and Desist can be played on its own as a two-player game or combined with other Smash Up titles to allow for up to four players to compete for control of bases at the same time. Smash Up: Cease and Desist includes four factions — Astroknights, Changerbots, Star Roamers, and Ignobles — with 22 cards for each faction. To play, you shuffle together any two factions, whether from this set or any other Smash Up title, then start playing.
Smash Up: Cease and Desist supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Smash Up: Cease and Desist is 45 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 Smash Up: Cease and Desist for ages 12 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.
Smash Up: Cease and Desist has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Smash Up: Cease and Desist belongs to these categories: Card Game and Fantasy. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. 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 Smash Up: Cease and Desist are: Paul Peterson. 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 Smash Up: Cease and Desist 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.