- BGG rank
- BGG #7,694
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Hack Trick
- 2–4 players
- 15–25 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,603
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Sponsio
2016
Rules assistance for Sponsio
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 30–45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Sponsio
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sponsio is a board game released in 2016 for 3–4 players, 30–45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by József Dorsonczky and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Betting and Bluffing, and Trick-taking.
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About the game
Time to take part in the greatest battles ever with your gladiator cards and try to win fights by taking tricks…or not because earlier you placed bets against them. Sponsio is played over several rounds. At the beginning of a round, each player has four turns to set their own scoring and goals for the trick-taking that follows, and this is mostly done by betting. Players can bet on tricks taken, on the number of cards of a given color in your takes, on the last trick, on the highest card taking, or even on the failure of your opponent. Instead of betting, players can choose other actions as well. Players can have up to four bets, but only those that you've won will earn you coins. For this reason and because the odds of the bets differ (x2, x3, x4, x5), sometimes instead of betting players will want to take other actions, such as changing one of their cards, doubling an odd, becoming the starting player in the trick phase, changing one of their bets, etc. This is where the tactical depth of Sponsio comes in: finding the best combinations to build your highest score! Sponsio is a family-strategy game that can be won in two ways: collecting 30 coins or winning 9 bets in a row.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Gémklub
- Ludicus Games
- Pixie Games
- Fullcap Games
- Mind Fitness Games
Questions and answers
Sponsio supports 3–4 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 Sponsio is 30–45 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 Sponsio for ages 10 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.
Sponsio 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.
Sponsio belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Betting and Bluffing, and Trick-taking. 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 Sponsio are: József Dorsonczky. 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 Sponsio 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.