Stats:
No. of players: 2-6
Amount of time to play: 60-90 min
Age requirements: 13+
Set-up time: 5-10 minutes

Five Fingered Severance Rules Description:

Five Fingered Severance puts you in the role of someone on the last day of their job at a convenience store. You can insult customers, steal items and just slack off, but you have to avoid the boss.

In Five Fingered Severance you are fired once you gain 30 heat. The game ends once there is only one player left employed or if you run through the entire deck of Worker Markers.

You draw a Work Marker to start your turn. These cards represent actual work that needs to be done, a customer, an opportunity to slack or some event in the store. These are resolved by placing duties customers and slack markers on the board. Events are resolved immediately and might move the boss, give all players heat or make you draw more Work Markers.

Once the Work Marker is resolved you may take two actions. These include stealing, moving, stashing your stolen items, slacking off, call the boss, tattling, helping or insulting a customer and doing work.

Some of these actions will get you points and possibly raise your heat while others will lower your heat. You can even get your opponents caught for stealing or slacking which will give them heat.

You also start the game with five plot cards. These can only be replenished by taking the plot action. They help you move or avoid the boss, adjust player’s heat, move around the board and other things. Most importantly they don’t cost an action to play and you may play as many on your turn as you like.

Lastly you will have your choice of one of six workers and each has their own unique benefits. Can you make their last day of work memorable and earn lots of points? If you can score the most points by the games end you win.

A Quick Review of Five Fingered Severance:

Five Fingered Severance has a truly unique theme. Think about it, have you ever had that job you just couldn’t stand? Ever wanted to tell all those annoying customers off? Well Five Fingered Severance gives you that chance. And although the theme is irreverent, it still makes for a unique and fun gaming experience.

Five Fingered Severance is full of “take that” opportunities. You will constantly be trying to figure out if you should gain an advantage for yourself or rat someone else out and give them some heat. You will press your luck as the longer you slack and more you steal, the greater chance you have of being caught. (As a side note, we listen to Jane’s Addiction’s Been Caught Stealin’ while we played the first time.)

There are many strategies in the game including just doing your work and keeping your heat low. I am not sure that alone can win you a game, but combined with some careful stealing or slacking, it might.

I also enjoy the differences in the characters. This adds even more strategic options and depth to Five Fingered Severance. The rules are well-written (and funny). The game length is good, but it might suck if you are fired early and have to watch for a while. This shouldn’t happen as all players should be gaining heat at a similar rate, but if everyone targets you that might not be the case.

After reading the rules for Five Fingered Severance I thought it seemed interesting. After playing the game I have to say it is really great. I am not always too concerned with theme, but this game’s unique theme and the gameplay just fit together beautifully. I will say this, this game is not for kids, and even though the box says 13+, there are some teens I might not play this with. But Five Fingered Severance is a great blend of theme, gameplay, strategy and luck that most any adult can enjoy! Check it out here.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 6 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6 (Once I get to play this more this might even become a 6)