Citadels
- 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
- 2000
About the game
Citadels is a classic card game of bluffing and city-building for 2 to 8 players. Each round, players secretly select one of eight unique character roles, each granting a special power that resolves in a fixed numerical order, from the assassin who eliminates a rival's role to the warlord who can demolish a building. On their turn, players collect resources and construct buildings from their hand, racing to be the first to complete eight buildings while maximizing bonus points for variety and color. Because you never know exactly which characters your opponents chose, guessing who to target with the assassin or thief creates constant, delicious uncertainty. It's a quick, endlessly replayable classic that scales unusually well across group sizes.
Hobbli's Notes
Citadels is one of the great gateway bluffing games, and its role-selection mechanism still feels fresh decades after release. The character powers create genuine strategic depth without ever feeling heavy, and it plays beautifully whether you have three people or eight. It does have some elimination-style sting when your character gets assassinated or robbed, which can occasionally frustrate newer players. Still, few games this light generate as much table talk and second-guessing.
What we like
- Clever role-selection creates constant bluffing and deduction.
- Quick to teach with a short playtime.
- Scales well from small groups to large parties.
- Timeless design with many expansions and variants.
Keep in mind
- Being targeted by the assassin or thief can feel harsh.
- Luck of the role draw can swing outcomes.
- Some player elimination-adjacent frustration for newcomers.
Who it's for
Great for groups of all sizes ages 10+ who enjoy light bluffing, deduction, and city-building card games.
