Junta
- Players
- 2-7
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 7 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 240 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 16+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.9 / 5
- Year
- 1979
About the game
Junta is a classic 1978 negotiation game set in the fictional banana republic of Los Bananas. Players are corrupt family members scheming for power, bribing their way onto budget committees, plotting assassinations, and staging military coups. Over 7 to 9 chaotic rounds, the president distributes foreign aid, players vote on shady budgets, and Swiss bank accounts quietly grow while rivals are gunned down. It's a legendary exercise in backstabbing, bluffing, and gleeful betrayal for large groups willing to embrace the theme.
Hobbli's Notes
Junta is one of the original great negotiation games: cutthroat, hilarious, and unapologetically political. It demands the right group: people who enjoy lying to each other's faces and laughing about it afterward. The long playtime and heavy negotiation make it a special-occasion pick rather than a weeknight game.
What we like
- Unmatched depth of negotiation, bluffing, and betrayal for its genre.
- Highly memorable, story-generating sessions that groups talk about for years.
- Rewards social skill and reading people as much as strategic play.
- Distinctive dark political humor sets it apart from most games.
- Scales up to 7 players, making it great for a full table.
Keep in mind
- Very long playtime of up to four hours can be a barrier.
- Player elimination-adjacent mechanics (assassination) can sideline some players.
- Requires a group comfortable with aggressive negotiation and betrayal.
- Heavy rules and long downtime make it unsuitable for casual game nights.
Who it's for
Adult groups of 4 to 7 who love negotiation, bluffing, and political backstabbing; not recommended for casual or conflict-averse players.
