- BGG rank
- BGG #4,366
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Hail Hydra
- 5–8 players
- 40–75 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2018
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- BGG #29,451
- BGG rating
- 5.2
The Joker
2020
Rules assistance for The Joker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 45–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.7/5
Rules assistant for The Joker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Joker is a board game released in 2020 for 3–6 players, 45–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Nick Metzler and its main mechanics are Take That, Hidden Roles, and Action Drafting.
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About the game
Gotham City’s most heinous Super-Villains have descended upon the city, all determined to rule the metropolis once and for all. Most of them are in it to corrupt the city and gain points, while The Joker sends Gotham City further and further into anarchy with each passing round, slightly altering the way the game is played. You are secretly one of these Super-Villains, filling character wallets with Corruption Cards worth positive or negative corruption points. Throughout the game, players can eliminate wallets from the game, sending the caught Super-Villain to Arkham Asylum. Each round, The Joker will cause anarchy and change the rules for the next round! At the end of the 7 round game, everyone will score bonuses for any players they eliminated, and, if not eliminated themselves, will reveal their Super-Villain identity and add any corruption points contained in their Super-Villain’s wallet. —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Editrice Giochi
- Spin Master Ltd.
Questions and answers
The Joker 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 Joker is 45–60 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 The Joker 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.
The Joker has a complexity rating of 1.7 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 Joker belongs to these categories: Comic Book / Strip, Party Game, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Take That, Hidden Roles, and Action Drafting. 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 Joker are: Nick Metzler. 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 Joker 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.