Saboteur 2
Expansion dividing gold-diggers into two teams with new roles.
Saboteur 2 (also released as 'Saboteur: The Expansion' in some editions) is an expansion for the original Saboteur card game, created by Frederic Moyersoen. The original Saboteur was released in 2004, while Saboteur 2 was released in 2011. In the base version, each player secretly receives a role: either a Miner (also called a Gold-Digger) or a Saboteur. Players hold a mix of path cards and action cards. On their turn, they play one card from their hand—or discard one—then draw a new card from the stock pile.
Miners try to build a tunnel from a special start card to one of three face-down goal cards, only one of which actually contains gold. Saboteurs try to block this progress by playing path cards that lead nowhere or turn away from the goal. Either role can also play action cards, which can break another player’s tools (preventing them from playing path cards), repair tools, let a player secretly peek at a goal card, or remove a path card from the board with a rockfall. The game lasts three rounds. A round ends either when a path reaches the treasure or when the draw pile runs out.
The objective is to collect the most gold nuggets over three rounds. Three to ten players can play. At the start of each round, roles are secretly assigned: seven Gold-Digger cards and four Saboteur cards are shuffled, and one is dealt to each player. One extra role card remains face-down, so no one knows the exact number of Saboteurs. The start card is placed seven card widths from the middle goal card, with the other two goal cards above and below it, one card length away. All path and action cards are shuffled together and dealt according to the number of players; the rest form a face-down stock pile.
The youngest player goes first, and turns move left. On a turn, a player must either play a path card into the mine, play an action card against another player, or discard a card face-down. Path cards must connect to existing paths, with each edge matching adjacent cards. Cards can be rotated 180 degrees but not flipped. The three goal cards stay face-down until a path connects to them. Action cards are played face-up in front of a player. Sabotage cards break one of three tools (lantern, mine cart, or pickax), preventing that player from playing path cards. Repair cards fix one broken tool. A map card lets the player look at one goal card privately. A rockfall card removes
- Players
- 3-12 (2-12 when combined with the original game)
- Roles
- 15 new role cards: 4 blue miners, 4 green miners, 1 boss, 1 profiteer, 2 geologists, 3 saboteurs
- Equipment
- 30 path cards, 21 action cards, 15 role cards, 32 gold nugget tokens (1, 2, or 5-nugget amounts)
- Requires
- Path and action cards from original game, but not the role or gold cards
Lore & Background
Saboteur 2 expands the original Saboteur game by introducing two competing teams of miners, distinguished by blue and green colors. The expansion includes 30 new path cards, 21 action cards, and 15 role cards, along with 32 gold nugget tokens in denominations of 1, 2, or 5 nuggets. It requires the path and action cards from the original game but does not use the original role or gold cards.
New path cards include bridge cards, double-bend cards, ladder cards, green and blue door cards, and mixed-path cards. Bridge cards have paths leading to all four edges but contain two independent paths, meaning not all edges are connected. Double-bend cards also have paths to all four edges, but they form a single continuous zigzag path connecting all edges. Ladder cards are logically connected to adjacent cards regardless of path alignment, allowing players to bypass blocked tunnels. Door cards can only be crossed by miners of the matching color team. Mixed-path cards combine different path types on a single card.
Reader's Guide
Saboteur 2 is significant as an expansion that deepens the strategic complexity of the original Saboteur by introducing team-based competition among gold-diggers. The addition of two colored teams (blue and green) creates new dynamics of cooperation and betrayal, as players must identify allies and opponents while navigating hidden roles. The new path cards—such as bridges, double bends, ladders, and colored doors—add variety to tunnel construction and blocking strategies. The inclusion of a boss, profiteer, and geologist roles further diversifies player objectives beyond the simple miner-versus-saboteur dichotomy. The expansion's legacy lies in its ability to refresh the base game with increased replayability and tactical depth, while maintaining the core hidden-role and path-building mechanics. It is designed for 2 to 12 players and requires the original game's path and action cards, making it an integrated but optional enhancement. The gold nugget tokens replace the original gold cards, allowing for more flexible scoring. Saboteur 2 remains a notable example of how expansions can expand a game's social and strategic possibilities without abandoning its foundational identity.
Did You Know?
- Saboteur 2 requires the path and action cards from the original game but not the role or gold cards.
- The expansion includes 15 new role cards: 4 blue gold diggers, 4 green gold diggers, 1 boss, 1 profiteer, 2 geologists, and 3 saboteurs.
- New path cards include bridge cards, double-bend cards, ladder cards, green and blue door cards, mixed-path cards, and path cards with crystals.
- Bridge and double bend cards have paths leading to all four edges but contain two independent paths, meaning not all edges are connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saboteur 2?
Saboteur 2, sometimes sold under the subtitle 'The Expansion,' is a 2011 add-on for the 2004 board game Saboteur, designed by Frederic Moyersoen. It splits the gold-digging faction into two rival teams and introduces a fresh set of secret roles.
What new roles does Saboteur 2 add?
The expansion brings fifteen role cards: four blue miners, four green miners, one boss, one profiteer, two geologists, and three saboteurs. These replace the simpler Miner-versus-Saboteur split found in the base game.
How many players can play Saboteur 2?
You can play with three to twelve people using Saboteur 2 on its own, or two to twelve if you combine it with the original Saboteur box.
What components come in the Saboteur 2 box?
The expansion includes thirty path cards, twenty-one action cards, fifteen role cards, and thirty-two gold nugget tokens in denominations of one, two, and five.
Do I need the original Saboteur to play Saboteur 2?
Yes—you must use the path and action cards from the original Saboteur, but the expansion's own role cards and gold-nugget tokens are sufficient in place of the base game's versions.
More in Connection games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record