A deductive reasoning card game with a killer storyline? This week, we dive into AEG’s unique tabletop game, Love Letter.
Love Letter is a card game introduced in May 2012 and designed by Seiji Kanai. It is produced in the United States by Z-Man Games.
In a world where technology reigns supreme, it’s easy to forget that board games are a great way to spend time with friends. Whether you’re a trivia buff, strategist, actor, artist, dirty-minded, or anything in-between, there is a game out there for you. Join me as I play my way through tabletop games to find the perfect match for every situation.
This Week’s Feature: Love Letter
Love Letter is a great card game for adults or children. My youngest daughter age 9 enjoys it, and I'd expect a 7 or 8 year to be able to play. It's a short game with lots of quick rounds so even if you are knocked out of a round you aren't out of the game for long. Love Letter is a tiny card game, that every true board gamer should have in his collection. It’s a perfect filler game since rounds are finished in minutes and the entire game in 10 minutes. It’s something you play when you get knocked out of something bigger, or something you teach new players to. In Love Letter, players compete to have their letters delivered to the Princess to prove their worth. In a quick game of risk and deduction, can you outwit your friends and earn the trust of the noble Princess? If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it. Report incorrect product info.
Ages: 10+
Type of Game: Cards, Deduction, Microgame
Number of Players: 2-4
Difficulty Level: Easy
Great For: filler, icebreaker (easy to talk during, not controversial so it is fine with people you do not know)
Length of Play: brief (15-20 minutes)
Bonus: Extremely portable, super affordable
Manufacturer Description: “All of the eligible young men (and many of the not-so-young) seek to woo the princess of Tempest. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the Palace, and you must rely on others to bring your romantic letters to her. Will yours reach her first? Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2 to 4 players. Your goal is to get your love letter into Princess Annette’s hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors. From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire.” (Alderac Entertainment Group)
What’s in the Box: instructions, 16 game cards, 4 reference cards, 13 tokens
The Gist:
Love Letter packs a big punch in a little package. It has a great storyline, is quick to teach and easy to learn, is incredibly portable, and is friendly on your wallet.Essentially, each player is a suitor who wants their love letter to get to the princess. Suitors are quickly eliminated one by one by following the directions on the card. The player left in the round with the highest value card wins the round and receives one token of affection (a red cube).
Love Letter Rules
When your turn begins, you have only one card in your hand. You then draw a card and play a card face up. You and the other players must follow the directions on the card. For example, if you play a “guard” card, you can try to guess what card an opponent has. If you guess correctly, they are out of the round. When you are eliminated, you must discard your hand face up.
Custom Letter Board
While there is always a bit of luck in card games, this one practices great skills of deduction. This is because all cards are discarded face up. Through the process of elimination and by seeing what your opponents are playing, you are more likely to predict their next move and find a way to eliminate them.
Skilled gamers, bluffers, and non-gaming individuals can all enjoy this game. Non-competitive people can easily play this on autopilot while making small talk or waiting for a movie/show to start. People who prefer deductive games or are more competitive will likely pay more attention and be more successful. Either way, this is a great way to pass the time and keep your friends and family members occupied for a bit.
Do you have a board game that you think we should feature? Let us know in the comments below!
Letter Board Target
Elizabeth Sanderson is a teacher, musician, and board gamer extraordinaire. She is eagerly awaiting her birthright to appear in a Hocus Pocus reboot.
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