Front Page

Content

Authors

Game Index

Forums

Site Tools

Submissions

About

Coup

Coup Card Game

Game Information

Game Name
Designer
Indie Boards and Cards
In the not too distant future, the government is run for profit by a new "royal class" of multi-national CEOs. Their greed and absolute control of the economy has reduced all but a privileged few to lives of poverty and desperation.Out of the oppressed masses rose The Resistance, an underground organization focused on overthrowing these powerful rulers. The valiant efforts of The Resistance have created discord, intrigue and weakness in the political courts of the noveau royal, bringing the government to brink of collapse. But for you, a powerful government official, this is your opportunity to manipulate, bribe and bluff your way into absolute power. To be successful, you must destroy the influence of your rivals and drive them into exile. In these turbulent times there is only room for one to survive.

Editor reviews

1 reviews

An Evermean Card Game
Rating 
 
4.5
“I'm The Duke.” Okay, starting a recommendation with a reference that only someone who has played the game is going to “get” is bad form. But anyone who has played Coup just rolled their eyes, smiled and shook their head. Coup is a card game with an economy. How much you can take from the treasury each turn is based on the cards you have. If you hold “The Duke” you can claim the most (3 coins) from the treasury. But Coup isn't just a game about what cards you hold (you only have two cards) but what cards you SAY you hold. Because you can claim to have ANY card and, unless someone calls you out on it, you can reap that reward. So, it's not unusual for everyone to claim “I'm The Duke” in the opening round, simply because there isn't enough information out to prove otherwise. As I said, you can call any other player out for pretending to have a card. But, if you are wrong, you lose one of YOUR two cards. Lose both cards and you are out of the game.

The economy drives every decision. Collect 7 coins and you can “Coup” any opponent's card, which an unblockable move. The card is removed from the player's hand and placed face-up on the table. This gives everyone a bit of information about what cards are possibly still in the game, as there are only a total of 3 of each card in the deck. Add in cards like the Assassin, which can remove another players card for only 3 coins and the Contessa who can block an assassination attempt and the tension is delicious. The more face up cards that are revealed by either coup, assassination, or failed attempts at calling someone out, the more information you have to determine if another player is trying to deceive you.

Yes, Coup has player elimination but with the game going so quickly, you are never out of the action for long. You can add more players (up to 10 players) with the expansion Reformation. It also adds more roles and a faction system. I've personally had trouble getting the expansion added in because the base game is so.damn.good. That no one actually wants to change the dynamic of the game by adding anything. The only issue I have ever had with playing Coup is with player's who don't feel comfortable “lying.”

User reviews

4 reviews

5 stars
 
(0)
4 stars
 
(1)
3 stars
 
(2)
2 stars
 
(1)
1 star
 
(0)
Rating 
 
3.0
Already have an account? or Create an account
Rating 
 
4.0
A single play is short and brutal, but it's best played many times in a row as you learn each other's tells. Endgame with 2 players often feels scripted, but this is still a favorite of mine.
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful to you? 1 0
Rating 
 
3.0
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful to you? 0 0
Rating 
 
3.0
Duke duke goose.

There's nothing wrong with Coup. Anyone who complains about people calling Duke should be the one to do something about it. There are better bluffing games at this point but if it hooks your group it will HOOK your group.
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful to you? 0 0
(Updated: April 29, 2019)
Rating 
 
2.0
I just didn't see the appeal here. You aren't given much to do with what you have, and the endgame is pretty anticlimactic. Just play Cockroach Poker and throw away all the other foolishness here.
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful to you? 0 0
Log in to comment