- BGG rank
- BGG #31,232
- BGG rating
- 4.8
Pugs in Mugs
- 2–5 players
- 20–45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,050
- BGG rating
- 5.2
Smear
1999
Rules assistance for Smear
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for Smear
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Smear is a board game released in 1999 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by James Nelson and its main mechanics are Take That, Matching, and Pattern Building.
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About the game
Smear is a fast‑playing card game of colorful sequences and crafty sabotage. Each player races to shed their hand by matching cards to “runs” of color laid out on the table—either extending a series or deliberately closing it off. But watch out for Smear cards: add one to any run and the next player who builds on it must draw penalty cards before continuing. The round ends the instant someone empties their hand, and everyone else scores points equal to the cards they still hold. After the agreed number of rounds, the player with the lowest total points claims victory—having smeared the competition without getting smeared themselves.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- GameStar Designs
Questions and answers
Smear supports 2–6 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 Smear 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 Smear for ages 6 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.
Smear 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.
Smear belongs to these categories: Card Game and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Take That, Matching, 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 Smear are: James Nelson. 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 Smear 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.