To win the coveted post of Master Builder, you’ll need to impress the monarchy by building a majestic medieval city. In Citadels, players hire the local citizens to earn gold and build districts to complete their cities. Each round, players draft characters, looking for the special abilities that will help their own city grow or get in an opponent’s way. Hire the elusive Thief to pick a rival’s pocket, or commission the Artist to beautify your districts and raise their value. This definitive edition keeps the signature bluffing and intrigue of Bruno Faidutti’s celebrated classic, and it combines all the previously published content into one travel-friendly box at an unbeatable price. Plot, scheme, and deceive your way to the top, because only the best city will earn its builder the title of Master Builder!

Gameplay Overview: Citadels is a modern classic of bluffing and outguessing your friends. Each round starts with a secret draft, as players pass around the character cards and each one quietly picks a role. The characters are then called in order, and each one gets their turn to collect gold, draw district cards, build, and use their special power. That’s where the fun begins. If you think a rival picked the Thief, you might spend everything before they can steal it. If you suspect someone took the character you were hoping to target, the guessing game gets even trickier. The holder of the crown chooses first next round, so even that is worth fighting over. Districts come in different colors and costs, and some have unique effects that can turn the game around. With 27 characters to choose from, you can switch up the cast every game. It plays well with anything from 2 to 8 players, which makes it a fantastic choice for big game nights, family gatherings, and groups that love a little friendly backstabbing.