- BGG rank
- BGG #5,976
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Tumult Royale
- 2–4 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,251
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Smugglers
2016
Rules assistance for Smugglers
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 40 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
Rules assistant for Smugglers
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Smugglers is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 40 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Klaus Teuber and Benjamin Teuber and its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Roll / Spin and Move.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,202
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Mag-O-Mag
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,477
- BGG rating
- 7.1
A Game of Thrones Catan: Brotherhood of the Watch
- 3–4 players
- 60–75 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,920
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Catan Histories: Rise of the Inkas
- 3–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,126
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Catan: Dawn of Humankind
- 3–4 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,130
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Catan: New Energies
- 3–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,189
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Catan: Starfarers Duel
- 2 players
- 75 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,811
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Catan Connect
- 4–6 players
- 30 min
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,322
- BGG rating
- 5.3
Catan Junior Mitbringspiel
- 2–4 players
- 15 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,121
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Catan: On the Road
- 3–4 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,872
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Barbarossa
- 3–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,264
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Die Ritter von der Haselnuss
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 1996
About the game
To bring the best youngsters into the business, the smuggler boss is holding a contest, with the candidates being challenged to move a sack filled with contraband through an opening in the fence. More specifically, in Smugglers players form the "sacks" used for smuggling out of modeling clay and hide their contraband within. The sacks are then rolled down a 3D path, with a die roll determining which hole in the fence the player needs to try to squeeze through. The player whose bag fits through the hole and who has the largest sack now checks the smaller bags, possibly taking the contraband hidden within. Who will prove to be the best smuggler?
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- KOSMOS
Questions and answers
Smugglers supports 2–4 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 Smugglers is 40 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 Smugglers 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.
Smugglers has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Smugglers belongs to these categories: Real-time. Its main mechanics are Push Your Luck and Roll / Spin and Move. 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 Smugglers are: Klaus Teuber and Benjamin Teuber. 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 Smugglers 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.