- BGG rank
- BGG #1,525
- BGG rating
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Plague Inc.: The Board Game
- 1–4 players
- 60 min
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- 2017
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- BGG rating
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Strain
2011
Rules assistance for Strain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Strain
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Strain is a board game released in 2011 for 3–7 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Avrom Tobias and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement.
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About the game
Strain is a game of competitive bioengineering. 3 to 7 players race to create microorganisms by placing Organelles and Cytoplasm around their Organism tiles. Players battle each other by deploying Toxin attacks and placing Virus tiles on opponents. Game Play: A players turn consists of three phases: (1) Activate Dormant tiles & Draw 3 tiles into hand (2) Build up your Organisms by playing tiles & Attacking others (3) Score Organisms & Discard all but 4 tiles Strategic tension and timing come from the need to use your Organisms tiles to make ATP (the currency of the game) or Toxin (the ability to attack) causing your organism to lose resistance and become more vulnerable. Dealing with this delicate balance of weakening to become stronger is key to the game. Game play is quick and easy-to-learn. Object of the Game The first player to complete 12 victory points by completing and scoring their microorganisms wins the game.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- HungryRobot
Questions and answers
Strain supports 3–7 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 Strain is 60 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 Strain 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.
Strain has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Strain belongs to these categories: Fighting, Educational, and Medical. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement. 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 Strain are: Avrom Tobias. 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 Strain 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.