Coup

Coup is a very fun game of trickery and deception that is relatively easy to pick up. I've had mine for years before doing this review. My friends and I have had many hours of fun yelling and pointing fingers at each other. It is a game that can either be really short or really long depending on the group you're playing with, but typically takes no longer than 30 minutes (usually shorter). The game comes with player cards, coins and cheat sheets containing character abilities for new players to refer to. The cards are relatively thick and have a good texture, whereas the coins are made of thick cardboard, which might feel a little cheap, even if they do serve their purpose well enough. The items come in this rather handy box made out of hard cardboard that protects the items well, but scratches rather easily. I like to bring this out to gatherings because you only need cards and coins, no board, no paper, nothing that requires a hard surface, so it's super easy to play anywhere. I found the game fun, even intensive at times, but not so suitable for younger children, and should probably only be introduced to young teens or older, because the gameplay leans heavily on players interacting with each other and using mind games and deception to trick others while using different abilities to gain certain advantages over others. Younger players mights struggle to grasp the more psychological aspects of the game. Highly recommend!

Intrigue in a Box: Coup isn't your average card game. It's a whirlwind of bluffing, deduction, and calculated risks, packed into a compact box and playable in just 15 minutes. This review delves into the heart of this Machiavellian masterpiece, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Pros: Fast-paced and Easy to Learn: The rules are simple to grasp, making it accessible to both casual and experienced gamers. Each turn revolves around claiming your character's ability or challenging another player's bluff. This keeps the pace brisk and the tension high. Masterful Bluffing: Lying is the core mechanic, demanding quick thinking and calculated deception. Successfully pulling off a well-timed bluff is incredibly satisfying, while getting caught adds a layer of delicious humiliation. Direct Interaction and Backstabbing: Players directly target each other, leading to tense confrontations and strategic plays. Don't expect alliances to last long in this cutthroat world! Portable and Replayable: The small size and quick playtime make it perfect for travel or filling short breaks. With only 15 cards, each game presents a unique set of challenges and unexpected situations. Cons: Player Elimination Can Feel Brutal: Losing all your influence (lives) can be frustrating, especially early on. It's important to accept the potential for sudden elimination as part of the game's tension. Limited Depth: While exciting, the simple mechanics and small card pool might not appeal to players seeking complex strategies. Groups with "Alpha Personalities" May Dominate: The reliance on bluffing can favor more assertive players who are comfortable with social deduction games. Overall: Coup is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a quick, intense, and social gaming experience. It's the perfect blend of luck, strategy, and deception, ensuring no two games are alike. While its simplicity might not satisfy strategic power players, it's a must-try for anyone who enjoys bluffing, backstabbing, and a touch of controlled chaos. So grab your coins, choose your alias, and prepare to enter the world of Coup, where alliances are fleeting and betrayal is an art form.

15 total cards across just 5 roles. Each player starts with two cards face down, much like Texas Holdem. Each turn you claim to be one of the 5 roles and take the associated action. Are you bluffing or trying to sell a double bluff? It doesn't end there. Many of the actions have counter-actions that can, in turn, be bluffed or double bluffed. Lie, deceive, fabricate, misrepresent, prevaricate, <insert synonym(s) here>. Then do it again and again. If you get caught lying, you lose one of your cards. If you incorrectly accuse someone of lying, you lose one of your cards. You can also lose a card via a coup or assassination. Once both cards are gone, you're out of the game. The last player standing is the winner. Coup is fast-paced, easily accessible, surprisingly replayable, full of player interaction and droll banter. It's a social, bluffing masterpiece! Pros: + Very few games lead to more shouts of "just one more!" + Hones and rewards your ability to read your friends + Proper observation requires lots of eye contact + Hilarious banter guaranteed making it a perfect party game + A rare social bluffing game that works with less than 5 players + Easy to learn and accessible for all ages + Great bang for your buck Cons: - Won't be much fun if you're opposed to ever bluffing - Randomness is obviously a big part of the game - The endgame is often quite predictable

My friends and I love this game. The rounds change every time you play so it’s always different and if you do get eliminated early, the rounds go very quickly so it doesn’t feel like you are just sitting around forever waiting for the next round.

Love this game so much! I bought it for myself after playing it with some friends and it is an easy game to learn and fun to play with all the strategy involved. It’s a quick game of deception that you can play over and over again and it never gets boring.

Fun, quick, easy to learn game. We bring it with us to play at friends' houses.

I missed out on the kickstarter, but grabbed a couple copies of this game as soon as it was available on Amazon. It's tons of fun to play, even with only 2 players. Games are short (5-10 minutes). Compared to other fun, short games like Love Letter , there is more strategy. It also scales up well if you have more people. It's hard to find a bluffing game that works with less than 5 people (I'm looking at you, The Resistance and Werewolf ). The product/manufacturer descriptions do not describe this game very well. There are 5 different cards (and 3 copies of each). Each one gives you a special ability within the game. You are dealt 2 cards for your hand. The goal is to force your opponents to turn over (discard) both of their cards. Each turn you can choose to draw money from the bank or take a special action. Actions include spending money to force an opponent to discard, stealing money from an opponent and taking extra money from the bank. Cards can also be used even when it's not your turn to block others from taking certain actions. However, since all cards are dealt face down, you are free to pretend you have *any* card and can take any action you want. If someone challenges you, you have to either show that you have the card you claimed or you are forced to turn over a card (discarding it). If someone challenges you and you were telling the truth, they are the one who has to discard. If you were to exclusively play this game for a long time with the same group of people, it might start to get old. However, as part of a set of games you play on game night/lunch with coworkers/whatever, you could play this for years. Beginners can pick it up quickly and it slots nicely into small amounts of free time. The game uses a non-standard card size (65x100mm). If you want to protect the cards from wear, you can use Ultra Pro Special Size Card Sleeves or the more expensive Mayday Games 7 Wonders Sleeves . The cards are fairly sturdy and durable though, and the game comes in a stiff box. I would consider sleeving the cards anyway, since any card that gets scratched or bent will essentially ruin the whole deck. The box includes a set of reference cards and cardboard coins to use for money. To make the game more portable, you could summarize the actions on a piece of paper and use pennies.

I bought this game a few months ago and it has quickly become my favorite game. It takes one or two rounds to get the hang of it but after that it’s utter madness in the best way possible.