Deal with the Devil
- Players
- 4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 150 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.7 / 5
- Year
- 2022
About the game
Deal with the Devil is a thematic, medium-heavy Eurogame for exactly four players, each secretly a mortal, a cultist, or the Devil, all pursuing different hidden win conditions. Through app-assisted blind trading, players exchange resources for money while quietly building their city and either protecting or selling pieces of their soul. Overplaying your hand invites the Inquisition's scrutiny, so subtlety and misdirection matter as much as economic planning. Loans, income, and voting mechanisms layer atop the hidden-role structure, so every game unfolds differently depending on who holds which secret role. It's a slow-burn game of suspicion, negotiation, and city-building strategy.
Hobbli's Notes
This is a heavy, long game that rewards patient players who enjoy negotiation and hidden information. The asymmetric roles give it strong replay value since your goals shift from game to game. Because it locks in exactly four players and leans hard on deduction and trading, it's not a good fit for groups that dislike table talk or long sessions. When it clicks with the right group, the tension of not knowing who's the Devil is a real highlight.
What we like
- Hidden asymmetric roles create high replayability across sessions.
- App-assisted blind trading adds genuine mystery to negotiations.
- Rich theme of soul-selling and suspicion is well integrated into mechanics.
- Rewards careful social reading and subtle misdirection.
Keep in mind
- Long playtime and high downtime demand a big time commitment.
- Fixed four-player requirement limits flexibility for game night groups.
- Heavy complexity may overwhelm casual players.
- Reliance on a companion app could be a barrier for some groups.
Who it's for
Experienced gamers who enjoy hidden-role deduction and negotiation, ages 14+, strictly for groups of exactly four players willing to commit to a long session.
