
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,624
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Viking Raiders
- 2–6 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1987

1990
Rules assistance for Vertigo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Vertigo is a board game released in 1990 for 2–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Philippe des Pallières, Duccio Vitale, Juan Rodriguez, Sylvie Barc, Pascal Trigaux, and Yves Fagherazzi and its main mechanics are Voting and Action Points.
You head an industrial nation and must look after your citizens' welfare. You must develop your country as fast or faster than your competitors ---but the price to pay is pollution, which affects every one. The players must negotiate with each other through the United Nations' Council and agree on how to develop their countries. The winner is the country with the most industrial plants at the end ---if there is a winner! The rules are simple and there is no clear winning strategy. There is some downtime during other players' turns, but Vertigo should nevertheless be a solid addition to your game library.
Vertigo supports 2–4 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 Vertigo is 90 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 Vertigo 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.
Vertigo 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.
Vertigo belongs to these categories: Economic, Political, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Voting and Action Points. 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 Vertigo are: Philippe des Pallières, Duccio Vitale, Juan Rodriguez, Sylvie Barc, Pascal Trigaux, and Yves Fagherazzi. 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 Vertigo 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.