Gorus Maximus (2018)

About this game

Gorus Maximus is a bloody trick-taking game of gladiatorial combat in which the trump suit can change mid-trick! The game can be played "player vs. player" or in teams. Dispatch your strongest gladiators and most ferocious beasts to earn crowd favor! Match the rank of the last gladiator played, and the trump suit changes immediately! Players are dealt a hand of ten gladiator cards and must contribute one gladiator to each bout (trick). There is a preferred school (trump suit) and the strongest gladiator from this school wins the bout. If no preferred gladiator entered the fight, then the strongest initiating gladiator (suit called for) wins. Players must follow the initiating school if possible, or they may "challenge" by matching the strength of the last gladiator played, immediately changing the preferred school to that of their gladiator! Players compete to collect gladiators with positive crowd favor and avoid those with negative favor. The player with the highest favor at the end of the round earns 1 crowd support. The first player to earn 3 crowd support has won the support of the masses and earns the title: Champion of Gorus Maximus!

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 1 to 8. It has a designed solo mode.
• Rules load. At 1.4/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 13 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.