Mascarade
$23.75
Mascarade at a Glance
| Game Type Bluffing, Card Game, Medieval Theme, Memory, Deduction | Play Time 30 mins | Skill/Complexity (1.7 - 5) Light |
| Age 10+ | Publisher(s) Repos Production | Published 2013 |
| Categories Party | Players 2 - 13 (6 - 8 best) | Cost $23.99 approx |
| Our Rating 8.2/10 |
About – Description
Enter the world of Mascarade, a card game with one simple aim: be the first to own 13 gold coins! Choose a character and use their special skills to trick, trap and destroy your fellow players and swell your coffers with coins quicker than anyone else.
During each turn you can choose three options – swap cards with another player, take a secret look at your character card to learn your abilities. Or, make known your chosen character to the rest of the team to claim its power! But beware, should another player have this card, the power will be turned on you and you’ll lose a coin.
Published in 2013, Mascarade has been met with wide appreciation and was nominated in its release year for both the As d’Or – Jeu de l’Année award and the Golden Geek Best Party Board Game.
Best Suited for Groups of 6 – 8
Recommended for gamers aged 10+. Small coins and pieces could be a choking hazard to young children under 36 months.
Mascarade is designed for 2-13 players (6 – 8 seems best), with a play time of around 30 minutes.
Skill/Complexity
With 13 characters to choose from, you need to get to know them all to truly master this game, but this just takes time. This is a great game for any level of player, and if you are new to themed card games, this is the ideal place to start.
Gameplay – How it Plays!
For the first game it is recommended you stick to specific characters as identified in the rule book. This allows players to get to know the characters and familiarize themselves with the rules.
As games are relatively short, you can quickly establish your style and identify your favorite characters, and which are best to destroy the opposition!
This is a really fun game with high stakes but fear not, that’s super-fast paced too!
Likes & Dislikes
- Great theme.
- Good use of mechanics for a party type game.
- Fast paced and fun.
- Interactive.
- Replay Value is fair.
- Can be tedious without the right players.
- On the other hand it can be too chaotic for others.
Mascarade has received good reviews generally, with players saying they have found it quick to pick up and great fun with a small group of people. With more players the gameplay can become a little disjointed which is worth bearing in mind if you are planning on playing in a large group (6 – 8 is good).
Expansions – Editions
There are three expansions for Mascarade:
- Mascarade: Usurper (2013)
- Mascarade: The Damned (2013)
- Mascarade: Expansion (2014)
Final Thoughts
Mascarade is a great deduction card game if you aren’t looking for lots of detail within a game – in fact it’s perfect if you want a light game to enjoy with friends or family.
The cards are beautifully drawn and the characters have a wide range of skills. Plus, with games being relatively short lived, there is plenty of opportunity to try out everything this game has to offer.
