- BGG rank
- BGG #3,444
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Homeworlds
- 2–6 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2001
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Rules assistance for The Gang: Tools of the Trade
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for The Gang: Tools of the Trade
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Gang: Tools of the Trade is an expansion for The Gang released in 2025 for 3–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Kory Heath and John Cooper and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Predictive Bid.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,381
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Zendo
- 2–6 players
- 15–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,986
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Blockers!
- 2–5 players
- 30–40 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #254
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Tichu
- 3–10 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #284
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Skull King
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #384
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition
- 2–5 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #506
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Skull
- 3–6 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #852
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Wizard
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,170
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Bridge
- 4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.9/5
- 1925
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,171
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Nokosu Dice
- 3–5 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,057
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Sluff Off!
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,341
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Spades
- 4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1938
About the game
Gear up and get ready for the hardest heist yet! The Gang: Tools of the Trade replaces the specialists of the base game with a special tool for each player at the beginning of play. These tools are private information, and each member of the team must determine on their own when their tool will be the most useful. What's more, two additional vaults are included, both with extra security that you must overcome to open. From the original designers of The Gang, this mini expansion will bring more variety and challenge to the game for expert players!
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- KOSMOS
- IELLO
- Thames & Kosmos
Questions and answers
The Gang: Tools of the Trade 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 Gang: Tools of the Trade is 20 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 Gang: Tools of the Trade 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 Gang: Tools of the Trade 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.
The Gang: Tools of the Trade belongs to these categories: Card Game and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game and Predictive Bid. 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 Gang: Tools of the Trade are: Kory Heath and John Cooper. 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 Gang: Tools of the Trade as an expansion for The Gang. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need The Gang to use it. Check that your edition of The Gang is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.