The Blind Syndicate 2027

The Lore

Step into the smoky backrooms and neon-lit streets of Prohibition-era America with The Blind Syndicate—a strategic, high-stakes board game where power, money, and influence are everything.

Build your criminal empire from the ground up as you take on the role of a rising Boss, placing your crew across the city's speakeasies, gambling dens, and back-alley operations. Roll Muscle, stack Clout, and outmaneuver rival syndicates to secure the most lucrative Deals—but watch your back. Every move could spark a Gang War, trigger a double-cross, or draw the attention of dangerous enemies.

With its striking 1920s art deco aesthetic, cinematic card designs, and layered decision-making, The Blind Syndicate blends area control, dice strategy, and social tension into one unforgettable experience.

Will you rise to become the Boss of all Bosses… or end up just another name in the ledger?

How to Play

Each round unfolds like a living crime story:

Over five rounds, players muscle into speakeasies, compete for lucrative Deals, manipulate turn order, and try to walk away with the most Money before the heat gets too high.

Each round begins with The Headline, where an Event card is revealed and changes the rules for the round. Then players recruit Muscle Dice, which represent the thugs, favors, and force they can bring to the streets.

Next, new Deal cards are placed at speakeasy locations around the board. Players roll to park their Boss Car at a numbered location. A well-placed Boss can break ties and swing a location in their favor.

Players then group matching dice into clusters. Each cluster lets them place matching amounts of Clout at the location with that number. For example, rolling two 3s lets a player place two Clout at Location 3. Strong clusters can also trigger Windfalls, opening new speakeasies and bringing more Deals into play.

Once Clout is placed, the Payoff begins. Speakeasies resolve one by one, with the highest Clout stacks claiming the best Deals. Ties can turn into Gang Wars, Boss Cars can settle disputes, and a lone Clout can become The Weasel, stealing all remaining Deals at that location. Players can spend Bounty markers to interfere, stop a Syndicate from using its special ability, remove Clout, or disrupt a Weasel before they cash in.

After Deals are claimed, players collect their payoff in stacks of cash. Then comes The Sit Down, a poker-style showdown where players ante, draw cards, use Bounties as wildcards, and battle for the Take.

At the end of each round, players Lay Low: turn order is reset based on the value of Deals earned that round, Deal cards are discarded, unused Muscle may carry forward, and the next round begins.

After five rounds, players count their Money. The Boss with the most cash wins and becomes the top Syndicate in town.

The player who builds the most powerful criminal empire and survives the treachery of their rivals rises as the Boss of all Bosses.

-description from editor