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Freeloader box art
2002 Ranked #18,361

Freeloader

This neighborhood collection game has players do favors for friends to borrow Food, Clothing, and Shelter, then score the most before the deck ends. Choosing whom to help determines the loaner items you can claim, shaping a race for basics.

Abstract Abstract Strategy Card Game Modular Board Roll / Spin and Move

Players

3-6

Play time

Not listed

Age

10+

Complexity

1.59/5

Rating

5.66

Harder to teach Highly interactive Deep strategy

Overview

At a glance

Is this game right for my group?

ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.

Teachability 2.3/5

Harder to teach

Replay value 3.8/5

High replayability

Interaction 3.7/5

Highly interactive

Player scaling 4.0/5

Scales well

Strategic depth 4.5/5

Deep strategy

See all 5 specifications

How it plays

How does it play?

Dear Diary: The best things in life are free. Other people's things.

Core mechanisms

Key systems that shape the decisions players make.

Read the full game description

Dear Diary: The best things in life are free. Other people's things. -- I think it's a shame that Doctor Goettsch owns so many nice things, but never has the time to use them. It's almost like I'm doing him a favor when I borrow his golf clubs. Now at least he knows they're getting some use. And if he ever actually needs them, he knows where to find me. I'm sleeping on the floor at Anthony's house. He's a Gambler, and he's got the best leftovers in town! And those silk suits he never wears are almost all my size. Tomorrow I should figure out where he keeps the keys to that car he never drives. Freeloader is a game celebrating the glorious pastime of living off other people's success. Players spend the game roaming the neighborhood, doing favors for their "friends" in exchange for great loaner stuff like the Doctor's Car, the Artist's clothes, or the Waitress' leftover food. To win the game you have to collect Food, Clothing, and Shelter before the deck runs out. It's all worth points, and whoever has the most points wins. Freeloader is the best of what Cheapass Games does: a simple, entertaining board game with decent strategy and a rock-bottom price tag. The game was designed by James Ernest and illustrated by Cheyenne Wright, and it's a total hoot. But hey, don't just take our word for it. Borrow it from your friends and play it for yourself. Awards 2003 Listed in GAMES Magazine's GAMES 100

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Editions

Language and publisher variants currently recorded in the catalog.

Edition Year Language Publisher / Region
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Player resources

Rulebooks, player aids, FAQs, and solo resources.

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Game and edition data

All specifications (5)

Play and group

Players
3–6
Best with
2
Play time
90 min
Age
10+
Complexity
1.6/5
Credits and catalog connections

Credits

Designers

1
James Ernest

Artists

1
Cheyenne Wright

Publishers

1
Cheapass Games

Linked items

No published linked games yet.