Number of Players: 2-6 Players

Playing Time: 60–120 Min

Ages: 12+

Complexity Rating: 2.48/5

Illuminati is a classic Steve Jackson game of world domination. Each player takes on the role of a secret society attempting to spread its tendrils into special interest groups throughout the world.

The game consists of three different cards (illuminati cards, group cards, and special event cards) and money. During a player's turn, a new card is drawn from a deck containing both group cards and special event cards. If it is a special event, the player in turn keeps the card and plays it when desired. If it is a group card, it is turned up along with any other face-up cards. The player in turn may then attempt to take over any group. This can be either a group on the table or a group already controlled by another player. If another player already controls the group it is more difficult to take it over, but not impossible.

How difficult it is to take over a group depends on the strength of the controlling group, the resistance of the group being taken over, the proximity of the group being taken over to the controlling player's illuminati card (if someone already controls it), and other factors. Once this is determined, both the attacking and defending player can modify the odds further by spending "megabucks". Once a group is taken over, it has to be attached to the card structure the player already controls. How cards can be attached to each other is limited by in- and outbound arrows on the cards, and maintaining a well-structured tree of groups can be vital to success.

The winning condition for each player is different and depends on what illuminati card that player has.

This bundle contains:

The original Pocket Box Illuminati (54 cards). . . yes, the version with the pink Illuminati cards and the Jeff George illustrations. It was released in 1982 and the rest is history. Just like the one you had in 1982, except the new version’s box is a bit thicker and fastens a whole lot better.  Each box contains a pair of Eye in the Pyramid dice and an Illuminati-themed pocket notebook.

All three Illuminati Expansion Sets, the first two in their own new Pocket Boxes and the third in a ziplock bag, just like The Old Days. So, you really get All The Stuff!

• The cover of Expansion Set 1 is a Dave Martin painting showing the Illuminati pyramid rising from a storm-tossed sea. It includes a new Illuminati group, the Society of Assassins, and 26 other game cards. To add to the fun from the original printing, you also get a pair of Illuminated dice and a couple of Illuminati membership cards.
• Expansion Set 2 has another Dave Martin cover, showing the Illuminati pyramid orbiting in space. This set adds the Network to the list of Illuminati, and 26 other game cards. Bonuses in this new edition include two more Illuminated dice and an “I’ve Been Illuminated” button.
• Expansion Set 3 shows Denis Loubet’s vision of the world, and the Pyramid, engulfed in flames. This is the set with the gameboards, and counters that let you increase the Conservatism, Criminality, etc., of the whole world. It also contains the famous “Fnord” counter, and the time is not yet right to tell anyone that you have it.

One empty Pocket Box, because Pocket Boxes are awesome and useful. 

Two pocket-type folders – each 9” x 12”. One has the original Dave Martin Illuminati cover image – the other has Dave’s “Illuminati in space” image with the pyramid as a huge, cratered asteroid hanging over Earth. These are specifically made for you to shake the worldview of your school or office friends who did not realize that you, personally, were part of the Conspiracy! 

Last and definitely least, a tasteful medium-quality black-and-light-blue cardboard box, holding all the above, which can be repurposed to hold shoes, radioactive ore, a spare set of mystic amulets, or whatever else you have to stash away.