Citadels Game Review

I like a game of political intrigue, where the ability to analyze and predict the other player is an asset. Citadels is one such game.

In the game Citadels you are a group of nobles amassing gold in order to be the one to build the best districts in a new medieval city. When a player has completed 8 districts the game ends and whoever has the most points from their district wins. Each turn players select roles then proceed in numerical order of roles to play special abilities and spend gold. The basic rules are beautifully simple but the roles make the game much more complicated and fun.

There are eight roles to choose from. For example: you have the King who gets to select his role first next turn, the merchant who earns extra gold, the assassin who can kill a character for a round (forcing them to miss a turn) and others. However role selection is done without other players seeing what you selected. Starting with the King each player selects a role, then passes the deck clockwise around the table. This way you only know your own selection, which cards have been drawn before your selection, and which were passed along. It is up to you to read the other players and deduce who drew which role.

This brings in some serious intrigue into the game. Do I select the thief in order to rob a player with stacks of much needed gold? If so which role would that player select? Or would he figure out that was my goal and select another role to avoid me? Or do I select the merchant to earn gold on my own? If I did that would another person select the thief thinking the player with stacks of gold selected the merchant causing me to be robbed instead?

It is these player choices in the game that decide the outcome. There are no dice. The only luck comes from what districts are drawn and available for purchase. The fun of the game comes from the ability to analyze, bluff, outmanoeuvre, intimidate and strategize. The joy of outwitting an opponent and the surprise of opponents’ cunning plays all work together to provide a medieval and intellectually stimulating game.

Unfortunately Citadels can be overcome with analysis paralysis. Players can sit during the role selection phase for a painfully long time frustrating themselves and everyone else trying to figure out which role to select. Players overanalyze the situation and become afraid of taking any action. This can bog the game down and take everyone out of the fun.

To sum up Citadels is a good game for people looking for a little political backstabbing and strategy. I would recommend Citadels for players who want to do away with luck to totally rely on their cunning, instinct, and insight into their fellow players. This is a great game for outwitting and bluffing. It can be bogged down by analysis paralysis so if you aren’t willing to gamble with your fate and make snap decisions this might not be the game for you.

Make sure to buy the most recent edition which has that purple icon in the bottom left corner. It includes expansions which allow for different roles to be included.