Citadels

Citadels

BluffingCard GameCity Building
Players
2-8
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
5 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
60 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.0 / 5
Year
2016

About the game

Citadels is a role-drafting card game in which players secretly select characters each round, the assassin, thief, wizard, and more, each granting unique powers used to gather gold and construct a city of colorful buildings. Because everyone's role choice is secret at first, reading your opponents and predicting their plans is central to the game. The first player to build seven buildings triggers the endgame, with bonus points awarded for variety and completeness. It's a classic bluffing and city-building card game beloved for its social deduction layer.

Hobbli's Notes

Citadels remains a genre-defining classic thanks to its clever hidden-role guessing game layered atop simple city-building. The tension of deciding whether to reveal your role through your actions, or bluff your opponents, never gets old. It scales impressively well from two players up to a full table of eight, making it one of the most flexible party-strategy hybrids around.

What we like

  • Clever hidden-role guessing adds a unique social layer.
  • Scales smoothly from 2 to 8 players.
  • Quick to teach with a satisfying depth of strategy.
  • Large character and district variety across editions.

Keep in mind

  • Player elimination-adjacent effects can feel harsh (e.g., the assassin).
  • Can suffer from analysis paralysis in larger groups.
  • Turn order and role choice can create some kingmaking.

Who it's for

Great for 2-8 players, ages 10+, who enjoy bluffing, social deduction, and light city-building strategy.

Mechanics

DraftingIncomeLose a TurnSet CollectionTake ThatTurn OrderVariable Player PowersVariable Set-up

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