Description

NB: AUTHENTIC version that comes with the verification QR code for use on the Transparency App. Fakes come in boxes with Chinese words and instructions, with misprinted cards.

Coup is a 10 minute party game for 2-6 players where players are various heads of futuristic Italian families trying to gain control of the government through a coup. Each player controls 2 official cards which they use to dispose of rival minions. On each turn, a player must announce an role that they wish to use, whether they have that role card or not, and proceeds to take that action if unchallenged by other players. Other players can choose to call the bluff of the active player, upon which the active player must show a card with the called role, or risk losing a card. If the called role card is shown, the challenging player must lose one of their cards. Play proceeds until there is 1 player left standing with at least 1 character card.

Coup plays like a group of futuristic Italian politicians deciding to play Survivor and Battle Royale with one rule: The new rulers must honest and rich. Expulsion from the Senate is guaranteed by either having enough money to put out a hit on someone else, or slandering someone successful and having the social media wolves finish them off.

The best part in Coup is when more than 3 players claim the same role. Given that there are only 2 copies of the 5 role cards in the game, this will lead to players issuing challenges in following rounds.

While it can be disconcerting to get eliminated from Coup in 2 turns of the game, it is also perhaps the game saving grace that the bloodletting is so relentless that any game ends quickly, giving players a chance to have a fresh start. Despite some measure of card counting, gameplay may feel random and elimination unjust, whether you project the utmost confidence in stating a role action or not.

For an equally light and fast role-playing experience, One Night Ultimate Werewolf has greater depth in its social deduction mechanics, while Love Letter offers the same player elimination and deduction aspects in under 5 minutes. Citadels 2016 also retains much of the spirit of Coup in a expanded format and without player elimination. The Coup Reformation expansion is required to increase the player count to 10. Among entry level party games, Junk Art, Telestrations, Dixit, Crossing, and Cockroach Poker are excellent alternatives.

Cards require 30 7 Wonders card sleeves (65 x 100mm)