
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,484
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Exploding Kittens: NSFW Edition
- 2–5 players
- 10–20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2015

2020
Rules assistance for The Deadlies
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Deadlies is a board game released in 2020 for 3–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Paul Saxberg and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Take That.
GREED, PRIDE, WRATH... just three of the 7 Deadlies you will encounter in this devious little card game, themed on the 7 Deadly Sins. Do your best to rid yourself of them all, as soon as you can - while your opponents do their damnedest to fill your hand with more. Empty your hand three times to WIN - and become the ENVY of all your friends! Object: Play as many cards as you can each turn, of the same Suit, Number value or a Straight of any length, trying to empty your hand as quickly as possible, while at the same time preventing your opponents from doing the same. The top most card of the set you play activates that suit's ability, either helping you further or sandbagging your opponents. Each time you successfully empty your hand (and manage to keep it empty until the end of the turn), your new starting hand will be two cards smaller than the previous time, as tracked by your Wickedness token. (6, 4, 2, 0) Empty your hand three times, and you WIN! A nasty little card game for a hell of a good time. -description from publisher
The Deadlies supports 3–6 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 The Deadlies 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 The Deadlies 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.
The Deadlies has a complexity rating of 1.4 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.
The Deadlies belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Take That. 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 The Deadlies are: Paul Saxberg. 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 The Deadlies 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.