Drum Roll

Run a circus in 1900s Europe, hire performers, meet their demands and put on the best shows.

Designers: Konstantinos Kokkinis, Dimitris Drakopoulos
Published by: Artipia Games
Editions by: Kaissa Chess & Games, Giochix.it

Early 1900s: you own a circus and tour Europe, hiring performers and putting on shows. Performers come in five types, tamers, acrobats, bizarre acts, magicians and jugglers, and each wants something different before they give their best: rehearsal, equipment, supplies, costumes and promotion. A show can turn out poor, good or outstanding, and the better the act, the more requirements the performer has to meet. When a performer delivers an outstanding show you face a choice about how to cash in. A 2011 game of worker placement, set collection, drafting and voting, for two to four, around ninety minutes.

Five types of circus performersPoor, good and outstanding showsWorker placement and set collection

Who it's for

You like economic games with a colorful theme, lots of small requirements to juggle and a middle-weight brain-burn.

Not for you if…

You want a light, quick game or a heavy rules-lawyer one. This sits in a busy middle zone.

Vibe's take

Busy and planning-heavy. You juggle demands for rehearsals, props and publicity, and every extra requirement you satisfy turns a decent show into a great one.