Masterpiece

Bid on famous paintings, bluff your rivals and try not to buy a forgery.

Designers: Marvin Glass, Christian Thee
Published by: Alga
Editions by: Hasbro, Parker Brothers, Estrela, Borras Plana S.A., Nilco S.A., Clipper, Miro Company, Majora, Toltoys, Smart Games, Inc.

Masterpiece (1970) turns an art auction into a game of nerve. Famous paintings by Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Renoir are for sale to the highest bidder, and the pictures come as full-color postcards that are part of play. Each collector tries to end up with the biggest fortune, counted in cash and the value of the art in their collection. The catch is that not every painting is real: how high you bid depends on how much you trust your eye and your read of the other bidders, and a forgery can quietly wreck a good-looking purchase. It is a game of bluffing and bidding, driven by dice and cards, for three to six people who enjoy a bit of showmanship.

Auction paintings by famous artistsFull-color art postcards are part of the gameForgeries can ruin a purchase

Who it's for

You enjoy auctions, bluffing and playing a rich collector for an hour, ideally with five players.

Not for you if…

You prefer modern, tightly designed auction games. This one leans on dice, cards and table theatrics.

Vibe's take

Theatrical and chatty. Bids climb on bravado, and the real fun is the silence just before someone calls out a price that is too high.