The Big Idea cover
2000BGG rank #6,439

The Big Idea

by James Ernest · Arclight Games

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Players3–6
Time45m
ComplexityLight
Age10+

About the game

What is The Big Idea?

The Big Idea is a quick and easy card game (Cheapass style) where the players represent venture capitalists creating companies (from a noun card and an adjective card - "Erotic Pants") to take through the process of an IPO. You automatically gain a share in companies you create, and later you have opportunities to secretly invest in a company and publicly buy a share in a company. Finally, you roll a die to see which companies go public in a round: equal to or lessor than the shares issued in the company. And the pay out: based on the number of shares issued and the number of cards used in forming the company times the die roll. The game is fairly simplistic, but it's lots of fun to create names of products like "Mentholated Chicken", while agonizing over helping your opponent because their product will net you the biggest gain. Expanded by: The Big Idea: More Cards! (compatible only with Semi-Deluxe edition) Re-implemented by: The Big Idea

How it plays

Mechanics

Player JudgeStock HoldingVoting

On the shelf

Categories

Card GameParty Game

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in The Big Idea?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?