Overview
Big Boss is a stock acquisition and investment game designed by Wolfgang Kramer, first published by Kosmos in 1994 (later reprinted by Funko Games in 2023). Explicitly based on Acquire, players invest in and expand companies by placing tiles on a board, buying shares, and orchestrating mergers. The goal is to become the wealthiest player through shrewd investment and strategic company growth. The game modernizes Acquire’s mechanics with a more accessible ruleset and updated components.
Components
- Game board with a grid of spaces
- Company tiles (placed on the board to expand companies)
- Share certificates for multiple companies
- Money (currency for purchasing shares and collecting dividends)
- Company markers and value tracks
- Starting player marker
Setup
Place the game board in the center. Shuffle the company tiles and give each player a starting hand. Distribute starting money equally. Place company markers and share certificates near the board. Determine the starting player.
Turn Structure
Each turn consists of:
- Place a Tile: The active player places one tile from their hand onto the board.
- Company Effects: If the tile starts a new company, merges companies, or expands an existing company, resolve those effects.
- Buy Shares: The player may purchase shares in any active companies (up to a set limit per turn).
- Draw a Tile: Draw a new tile to replenish your hand.
Actions
- Start a Company: Placing a tile adjacent to an unaffiliated tile on the board starts a new company. The founding player receives a free share.
- Expand a Company: Placing a tile adjacent to an existing company grows it, increasing its value. Shareholders benefit from increased share prices.
- Merge Companies: When a tile connects two separate companies, a merger occurs. The larger company absorbs the smaller one. Majority shareholders in the absorbed company receive bonuses. Shares in the absorbed company can be traded, sold, or held.
- Buy Shares: Purchase up to a limited number of shares in active companies at current market prices.
- Collect Dividends: When companies reach certain size thresholds, shareholders may receive dividend payouts.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
The game ends when all companies on the board are too large to merge, or when the tile supply runs out. Players sell all remaining shares at current market value. The player with the most total money (cash plus share value) wins.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- Merger Bonuses: The majority and minority shareholders of the acquired company receive substantial cash bonuses. In ties, bonuses are split equally.
- Company Size Limit: Companies that exceed a certain size become “safe” and cannot be acquired in mergers.
- Share Limit: There is a maximum number of shares available for each company. Once sold out, no more can be purchased until shares are returned through mergers.
- Unplayable Tiles: Tiles that would merge two safe companies are unplayable and must be discarded and replaced.
- Strategic Tile Holding: Players may hold tiles that would trigger mergers, timing the placement for maximum personal benefit.
Player Reference
| Action |
Effect |
| Place Tile (new company) |
Found company, get free share |
| Place Tile (expand) |
Increase company value |
| Place Tile (merge) |
Absorb smaller company |
| Buy Shares |
Invest in active companies |
| Merger Role |
Benefit |
| Majority shareholder |
Largest cash bonus |
| Minority shareholder |
Second largest bonus |
| Other shareholders |
May trade, sell, or hold shares |