Gangs of Bombay 2026

In Bombay, power is never given — it’s taken, defended, and paid for.

Gangs of Bombay is a competitive strategy board game set in the turbulent underworld of 1960s Bombay, an era shaped by strict import controls, high taxes, and a booming black market for gold, liquor, electronics, and arms. Players step into the role of ambitious gang leaders rising from the streets, competing to build the city’s most infamous criminal empire while staying one step ahead of rivals and the ever present Bombay Police.

Gangs of Bombay blends area control and worker placement with economic engine building. Conflict is costly, alliances are temporary, and timing is critical. Players deploy thugs across key areas and locations to claim territory, extract Hafta, smuggle illicit goods, and establish networks of legal and illegal businesses. Every action carries risk: aggressive expansion invites conflict and police attention, while quiet consolidation may leave opportunities open for rivals. Managing resources, positioning, and timing is critical, as Heat from law enforcement constantly pressures players’ plans.

At the start of the game, players choose one of four unique gang leaders, each with asymmetric abilities that shape how their gang operates. While all players share the same ultimate goal, each gang offers a distinct playstyle, strategic focus, and path to victory. No two games need play the same, as players can pursue different combinations of territory control, economic dominance, and notoriety to rise to the top.

The game is played over a fixed number of rounds, after which players score Infamy. Infamy is earned through controlled territories, successful criminal operations, completing contracts, hidden wealth, and notorious actions taken throughout the game. The player with the highest Infamy at the end is crowned the undisputed ruler of the Bombay underworld.

—description from the publisher