- BGG rank
- BGG #22,533
- BGG rating
- 5.9
ShowBiz Shuffle
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,611
- BGG rating
- 6.0
X-Machina
2003
Rules assistance for X-Machina
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.2/5
Rules assistant for X-Machina
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
X-Machina is a board game released in 2003 for 4–8 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Joan Wendland and its main mechanics are Storytelling.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,561
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Counting Zzzzs
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #901
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Detective Club
- 4–8 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,585
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Reigns: The Council
- 3–6 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,119
- BGG rating
- 7.3
BARPIG: After Hours
- 3–7 players
- 30–75 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,966
- BGG rating
- 5.6
Big Picture Apples to Apples
- 4–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #28,289
- BGG rating
- 5.1
Los Viajes del Capitán Foucault
- 3–6 players
- 9–36 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #29,411
- BGG rating
- 4.5
Fake News
- 4–8 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,661
- BGG rating
- 5.3
DEER LORD!
- 4–12 players
- 30–90 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,563
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Great Scott!
- 3–5 players
- 20–45 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,356
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Rappakalja Extreme
- 3–8 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,864
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Sacred Rites
- 3–9 players
- 20–30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
About the game
From the publisher: X-Machina is the fun party game where you make impossible inventions out of improbable components for unreasonable customers. Tons of fun for 4-8 players. Use the components (Cogs) in your hand to try and build the gadget the customer wants (Reqs). Since they are never sufficient you might want to be ... inventive ... with your explanation of why it works. In addition to 240 Cog cards and 60 beautifully illustrated Req cards the production version of X-Machina comes with a glossary so you can look up Cogs you might not be completely familiar with. There are one hundred copies in the original "flagpole" edition and they are each numbered and signed by the game designer. The production version was published in 2004.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Blood & Cardstock Games
Questions and answers
X-Machina supports 4–8 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 X-Machina is 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 X-Machina 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.
X-Machina has a complexity rating of 1.2 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.
X-Machina belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Storytelling. 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 X-Machina are: Joan Wendland. 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 X-Machina 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.