How Many Players for Maximum Apocalypse, Set a Watch, and Lawyer Up?

Quick answer

Maximum Apocalypse plays 1–6 players out of the box, Set a Watch plays 1–4, and Lawyer Up plays 2–6. For most groups, Maximum Apocalypse is best at 2–3, Set a Watch is best at 2–3, and Lawyer Up is best at 4–6 because its team-based case flow needs a fuller table.

Player count is the single easiest way to buy the wrong game. A box that says 1–6 can still feel flat at two players, and a tight two-player co-op can drag at five. This guide answers the concrete questions readers ask about three games we carry: Maximum Apocalypse, Set a Watch, and Lawyer Up.

Each answer below stands on its own, so you can jump straight to the game you are considering. Where an expansion changes the table size or adds solo support, we note it.

How many players can play Maximum Apocalypse?

Maximum Apocalypse supports 1–6 players. The game scales by adding survivors and monsters, so a two-player game moves quickly while a five- or six-player game becomes a longer, louder survival slog. It is fully solo playable, and many owners treat it as a two-player co-op first.

The sweet spot for most groups is 2–3 players. At that size you still feel the pressure of limited actions without waiting through long turns. At 5–6, expect a longer session and more table space, especially once you add monster decks from expansions.

• Solo: fully supported and genuinely tense
• Best at: 2–3 players
• Avoid if: your group hates downtime between turns

How many players can play Set a Watch?

Set a Watch is a 1–4 player co-op. Each player controls one Adventurer with unique dice, and the game is built around assigning those dice to locations and threats. That design makes it scale cleanly: more players means more dice and more coordination, not more waiting.

Two and three players are the most common recommendation because you get class variety without overloading the table. Solo works well if you are comfortable running multiple Adventurers. Four players is doable but can slow down the planning phase, since every roll needs a group decision.

• Solo: supported, often played as two-handed
• Best at: 2–3 players
• Avoid if: your group dislikes shared puzzle-solving

How many players can play Lawyer Up?

Lawyer Up is a two-team game for 2–6 players. One side prosecutes, the other defends, and the case flow depends on both teams having enough players to handle roles and objections. That structure makes 2 players a head-to-head duel and 4–6 the intended experience.

If you regularly have three players, Lawyer Up is an awkward fit because the teams are uneven. With four or more, the back-and-forth of objections and evidence feels much more like a courtroom. This is the one in this trio where a bigger table usually means a better game.

• Solo: not supported
• Best at: 4–6 players
• Avoid if: you usually play with exactly three

Do expansions change the player count?

Sometimes. Maximum Apocalypse expansions add content and variety rather than new seats, so they do not push the game past six players. Set a Watch: Forsaken Isles is a stand-alone expansion with new Adventurer classes, a new Doom mechanic, and a short game mode, which gives small groups a faster option without changing the 1–4 range.

For Maximum Apocalypse, Maximum Apocalypse: The Few and Cursed Expansion adds the Redhead's Curse Chaser deck plus new monster decks and tiles built around a Cursed status effect. That is more replay value at your existing player count, not a different count. Check the box for each product if solo support matters to you.

• Expansions usually add variety, not seats
• Stand-alone expansions can be a cheaper entry point
• Always confirm solo support on the specific box

How do I pick a player count for my group?

Count your realistic regular group, not your maximum party. If you usually have two, buy for two and treat larger nights as a bonus. If you host game nights of five or six, prioritize games like Lawyer Up that are designed around teams, and save the tight co-ops for smaller evenings.

Also weigh downtime and table space. Co-op games with shared planning, like Set a Watch, handle four players better than competitive games with long individual turns. A board game player count guide is only useful if it matches how you actually play.

• Buy for your typical group size, not your largest
• Co-ops tolerate more players than turn-heavy competitive games
• Solo support is worth confirming before you buy

Player count FAQ at a glance

Maximum Apocalypse player count

1–6 players; best at 2–3. Solo is fully supported, and expansions add content rather than seats. Buy it if you usually have one or two players.

Set a Watch player count

1–4 players; best at 2–3. Forsaken Isles is a stand-alone expansion with a short game mode and new classes. A strong pick for small co-op groups.

Lawyer Up player count

2–6 players in two teams; best at 4–6. Three players creates an uneven team split. Choose it for full-table game nights, not pairs.

Products that fit these player counts

• Set a Watch: Forsaken Isles: Stand-alone expansion featuring the same gameplay with a new Doom mechanic and a new short game mode, plus new locations, creatures, items, and at least 4 new Adventurer classes. A fast option for 1–4 players and a lower-cost way to try the system, especially if your group often has only two or three.
• Maximum Apocalypse: The Few and Cursed Expansion: Features the Redhead's Curse Chaser deck from the Few and Cursed board game along with new monster decks and tiles that focus on a new Cursed status effect. Adds replay variety at your existing 1–6 player count rather than changing how many people can sit down.
• Maximum Apocalypse: Allies of the Rapture: Compiles extra Kickstarter Exclusive content including the solo focused Allies expansion, the Rapture apocalypse, murder clowns, and gremlin monsters. Worth a look if you play Maximum Apocalypse solo or with one other person and want more of that content.

Match the box to your real table: Maximum Apocalypse and Set a Watch shine with one to three players, while Lawyer Up rewards a full group of four to six. If you are unsure, start with the game that matches your most common headcount and let expansions handle the variety.