The Scarlet Pimpernel

About this board game

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a competitive cooperative board game for 2–6 players, with games lasting about 90 minutes. Set in France in 1793, it places you amid the Reign of Terror, where the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel works to rescue innocent people from the guillotine.

Players help carry out seven missions, culminating in the rescue of the young Dauphin, heir to the French throne, and his escape to Vienna. Each mission requires the League to secure a route and location, gather supporters and resources, and fill five mission spaces.

• Move your pawn or place a cube using your player tile.
• Use actions from a collected Special Favor tile.
• Gather horses, carts, papers, and disguises for the missions.
• Use a rest cube after your initial action when appropriate.

On each turn, you must either take an action or pass. The round ends when every mission space contains a cube, or when all players pass in succession. The mission is then completed, and the game continues until all seven missions have been resolved.

Although players cooperate to accomplish the rescues, they also compete for points by placing cubes in different locations on the board. When the final mission is complete, the player with the highest score becomes the Scarlet Pimpernel’s most trusted advisor.

With secret identities, daring objectives, and a blend of shared goals and individual scoring, The Scarlet Pimpernel challenges the League to work together while carefully pursuing personal victory.