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- BGG #1,508
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Sons of Anarchy: Men of Mayhem
- 3–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,027
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Wise Guys
2022
Rules assistance for Wise Guys
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–4 players
- 90 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Wise Guys
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wise Guys is a board game released in 2022 for 3–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Phil Yates and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Trading, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Wise Guys is a quick-to-learn, cutthroat, area-control board game in which you play as one of four rival gangs seeking to strike it rich as "Rum Runners" on the rough streets of Chicago at the height of the roaring 20s. Each turn, players wheel, deal, talk, and fight to control locations where they buy and sell alcohol, help politicians get elected, and get help in return or double-cross rival gangs. Negotiate, threaten, and ally with rival gangs when it serves your needs, but be wary of the inevitable knife in the back... Over six rounds, players take turns driving to locations in the city represented by the grid of cards at the center of the board. Different locations provide access to materials, cash, or clout that the player's gang members can "acquire" through trade, earning profit from property within their territory or by exploiting parts of the city under the control of a rival gang. All players must maintain a certain discretion as selling too much in one round will draw unwanted attention or else saturate the city in liquor — and your fellow mafioso won't be too happy about lost profits. The gang with the most cash at the end of the game wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gale Force Nine, LLC
Questions and answers
Wise Guys supports 3–4 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 Wise Guys 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 Wise Guys for ages 13 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.
Wise Guys has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Wise Guys belongs to these categories: Territory Building, Negotiation, and Mafia. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Trading, and Dice Rolling. 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 Wise Guys are: Phil Yates. 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 Wise Guys 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.