Grifters

About this board game

Grifters is a hand-building game for 2–4 players that plays in about 30 minutes. Set in a dystopian universe, it casts players as powerful crime bosses competing to build criminal organizations and steal money from corrupt governments, malicious corporations, and rival players.

Each player begins with six Specialist cards, and every specialist offers a unique ability and skill. Play a single specialist to use their ability, or combine several specialists to complete a job. You can recruit more criminals, carry out jobs, steal from government coffers, and swindle opponents while deciding how to get the most from every card.

Unlike a deck-building game, Grifters keeps your entire card collection available in your hand or in play. This hand-building system gives you direct control over your strategy, while a distinctive cooldown mechanism regulates when specialists become available again.

• Play specialists individually or combine their skills for jobs.
• Move played cards through the three-night cooldown system.
• Recover cards from the refresh area at the end of your turn.
• Earn end-game bonuses by completing multiple jobs against the same target.

Cards enter the first Night of your hideout when played. Existing cards advance through the second and third Nights as new cards are added, and cards pushed out of the third Night move to the refresh area before returning to your hand.

The game ends when the coffers run out of money, no jobs remain, or no specialist cards are left to recruit. The player with the most money wins. The first edition also included Informant Ringleader cards, which add bluffing and challenges, along with upgraded player tableaus and promotional specialist cards.

With its focused hand management, flexible specialist abilities, and criminal competition, Grifters puts every card under your command.