- BGG rank
- BGG #14,430
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Sneaky Bastard
2021
Rules assistance for Sneaky Bastard
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 25 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Sneaky Bastard
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sneaky Bastard is a board game released in 2021 for 2–6 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Robert Brouwer and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding.
About the game
Congratulations, you’re about to buy your own house! However, buying a house requires money. And lots of it. In order to lay claim on the piece of real estate of your choosing, you’re going to participate in an auction. But the market for real estate is tricky. Before you know it, some sneaky bastard walks away with your money. Or, as you’re strapped for cash, would YOU rather be that sneaky bastard? Sneaky Bastard is an auction game with a twist. Whoever gets hold of the most expensive houses wins the game. You’re not only placing bids on the real estate, but also on the bids themselves with the aid of Sneaky Bastard-cards, in order to gain more financial means. In this way, the game plays like an auction-within-an-auction. Sneaky Bastard is a fast-paced game that revolves around strategy, tactics and interaction. By carefully considering when to play a Sneaky Bastard, you’ll be able to gather the financials means to place bids in the later rounds. You’ll need the best real estate in order to win Sneaky Bastard, but you’ll also use houses as an alternative for money cards during later auctions. —description from the publisher
Questions and answers
Sneaky Bastard 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 Sneaky Bastard is 25 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 Sneaky Bastard 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.
Sneaky Bastard has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Sneaky Bastard belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are 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 Sneaky Bastard are: Robert Brouwer. 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 Sneaky Bastard 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.