Cheaty Mages! (2008)

About this game

The card game Cheaty Mages puts you in the role of a wizard who has come to watch and bet on monsters fighting in an arena. Of course, you have all of your spells to help the monsters you've bet on win (or harm the monsters fighting against yours) – but then again, so do all of the other players, too! What's more, judges line the arena during combat and if players push things too far with their cheating spells, a judge might intervene and dispel – or even eject – the fighter! Who will walk away with the largest pile of gold?

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 3 to 6.
• Rules load. At 1.6/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.