Saboteur

AMIGO, 999 Games, Albi · Board game · 2004
3–10 · best 7-8 30 min Weight 1.3/5
7.8 rating Ludopedia
6.5 rating BGG
7.8 rating Ludopedia
6.5 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you love a good dose of hidden roles and social deduction with a touch of mining, Saboteur is a fantastic pick for your game night. It's all about that delicious tension of not knowing who to trust!

Highlights
  • Engaging hidden roles and social deduction
  • Quick to learn, easy to teach
  • High player count flexibility
  • Creates fun table talk and accusations
Keep in mind
  • Can feel random with bad draws
  • Best with larger player groups
RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
In Saboteur, you and your friends dive into the depths of a mine, taking on the role of dwarves in search of gold nuggets. But here's the twist: not everyone is on the same side! Secretly, some of you are dedicated miners, trying to build a continuous path to the treasure. Others, however, are cunning saboteurs, tasked with hindering the search and ensuring the gold is never found by the miners. Roles are distributed in secret and only revealed at the end of each round, keeping the tension and distrust in the air. The game unfolds over three exciting rounds. At the start, the starting card is placed on the table, and three face-down goal cards are positioned at a certain distance, forming a potential map. Only one of these goal cards hides the coveted gold. During your turn, you have three options: play a path card to expand the mine, use an action card to help (or hinder) another player, or simply pass your turn. Path cards are essential for connecting the mine entrance to the gold, but they must be played logically, connecting to existing paths. The miners work together to create this route, while the saboteurs try to block progress, break tools, or even peek at the goal cards to find out where the gold isn't. The key for saboteurs is to act subtly, so as not to be unmasked too early. A round ends when the gold is found (miners' victory) or when it becomes impossible to reach (saboteurs' victory). At the end of three rounds, the dwarf with the most accumulated gold is crowned the grand winner. Get ready for lots of deduction, bluffing, and laughs!
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Saboteur English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
3 OK
4 OK
5 REC
6 REC
7 BEST
8 BEST
9 REC
10 REC
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Game details

Families

Creatures: Dwarves & Gnomes Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Digital Implementations: BrettspielWelt Game: Saboteur Series: Beveled Boxes (Gigamic) Theme: Mining
Publisher AMIGO, 999 Games, Albi, asmodee, Boardgame Space, Brain Games
Designer Fréderic Moyersoen
Artist Alexander Jung, Andrea Boekhoff, Fréderic Moyersoen
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Saboteur support?
Saboteur is ideal for groups, supporting 3 to 10 players, which makes it great for parties and gatherings with friends.
What is the average playtime for Saboteur?
A full game of Saboteur, consisting of three rounds, usually takes about 30 minutes. It's fast-paced and dynamic!
What is the complexity of Saboteur?
Saboteur has a very light complexity, with a BGG weight of 1.32/5. The rules are easy to learn, allowing new players to jump into the fun quickly.
What comes in the Saboteur box?
The box contains path cards, action cards, dwarf cards (to define roles), goal cards, and gold nuggets for scoring. Everything you need to start mining and sabotaging!
Who is Saboteur recommended for?
It's highly recommended for those who enjoy bluffing, deduction, and social interaction games. If you like the thrill of not knowing who to trust and trying to trick your friends, Saboteur is for you!
Does Saboteur have any expansions?
Yes, there is an expansion called Saboteur 2, which adds new roles, cards, and mechanics, increasing the complexity and possibilities of the base game.