# Squire for Hire

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 6.7
- **BGG Rank**: #5706
- **Players**: 1-2 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 15-25 min
- **Weight**: 1.63 / 5
- **Designers**: Jon Merchant
- **Artists**: Jon Merchant
- **Publishers**: Letiman Games
- **Categories**: Animals, Card Game, Fantasy, Print & Play
- **Mechanics**: Layering, Melding and Splaying, Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tile Placement, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
If you love inventory management with a fantasy twist, this game’s a hit!Compact & fast designLayering mechanics funGreat for 1‑2 playersRequires space awarenessTrash items cost pointsHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Squire for Hire is that 18‑card mini‑game that makes you feel like a legendary hero’s right hand, but without the sword in your grasp. You start as a random squire, and each turn you try to complete story cards—basically quests—to earn loot (items) that you’ll slot into your bag. Layering comes into play when you cover items with others, which can give you scoring bonuses or simply hide the trash that takes points away. Each item occupies a number of spaces in the bag, so you have to plan where to place what, remembering that identical items next to each other score extra points. When the story deck runs out, the final tally is made: 1 point per item, 1 point per pair of identical items, plus bonuses based on your squire card. Visible trash items deduct 1 point, so it’s good to cover them. The game is quick, 15‑25 minutes, and works well for 1 or 2 players. If you like inventory management, layering pieces, and competing against yourself in solo mode, Squire for Hire is a great light‑strategy challenge. The components are simple: 18 loot cards, 18 story cards, and 2 squire cards. The design is accessible, with no complex math, but the overlap and space‑management demands focus. The board‑gaming community loves the anthropomorphic animal theme and fantasy aesthetic. If you’ve played games like 7 Wonders or Decrypto, you’ll find the set‑collection and tile‑placement mechanics familiar. In short, it’s a compact, fun, and strategic game—perfect for a quick game night or honing planning skills.

## FAQ
### How long does a game last?
A typical game lasts between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on player count and play speed.

### Can I play solo?
Yes, the game includes solo rules that let you compete against your own high score using all cards.

### What are the main components?
The core components are 18 loot cards, 18 story cards, and 2 squire cards, plus bag spaces to place items.

### How does the layering mechanic work?
You can place a loot card over an existing item in the bag, as long as it covers the entire item; this can earn bonus points or hide trash.

### Who is the ideal audience for this game?
Players who enjoy card games, set collection, and tile‑placement layers, especially fans of fantasy themes and anthropomorphic animals.

### What is the difficulty level?
It’s rated as easy to medium difficulty; the mechanic is simple, but space management requires focus and strategy.

### Are there any expansions or variants?
No official expansions exist yet, but the community can create rule variants and custom cards.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.32 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3924115&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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