Citadels

Hans im Glück, 999 Games, Arclight Games · Board game · 2000
2–8 · best 5 20–60 min Weight 2.1/5
7.6 rating Ludopedia
7.1 rating BGG
7.6 rating Ludopedia
7.1 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you love games with hidden roles, deduction, and a bit of "take that," Citadels offers a thrilling experience where outsmarting your opponents is key to building the grandest city.

Highlights
  • Engaging hidden role character selection
  • Strategic bluffing and deduction
  • Interactive player abilities
  • Race to build eight districts
Keep in mind
  • Direct player interaction can be harsh
  • Luck of the draw for districts
RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide
About the game
In Citadels, you embody a master builder striving to erect the most impressive city in the realm. But don't expect it to be easy! Each round, you and your opponents secretly choose a character with unique abilities to help you gather gold and construct districts. The game is a race to be the first to complete eight buildings, but strategy goes far beyond just building. The characters are the heart of the game: the Assassin can eliminate an opponent, the Thief can steal your hard-earned gold, the Magician can swap district cards, and the Warlord can destroy other players' constructions. It's a true cat-and-mouse game, where deduction and bluffing are as crucial as resource management. Districts come in five colors, each with its own particularity. Purple ones often offer special powers, while other colors interact with specific characters, such as the King with yellow districts or the Bishop with blue ones. On your turn, you can collect gold or district cards, and then build one building – or up to three, if you're the Architect. Each building has a cost and a point value. At the end of the game, in addition to points from buildings, bonuses are awarded for having eight constructions or a set of all five colors. The Brazilian edition already includes The Dark City expansion, which adds more characters and districts, increasing the player count to up to eight and ensuring immense variety in every game. Get ready for plenty of interaction and plot twists!
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Citadels English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 OK
3 REC
4 REC
5 BEST
6 REC
7 REC
8 OK
WHERE TO BUY
Finding best prices...
Game details

Families

Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Digital Implementations: BrettspielWelt Digital Implementations: VASSAL Game: Citadels Mechanism: Tableau Building Misc: Dice Tower Hall of Fame
Publisher Hans im Glück, 999 Games, Arclight Games, Brain Games, cutia.ro, Delta Vision Publishing
Designer Bruno Faidutti
Artist Bjarne Hansen, Bruno Faidutti, Cyrille Daujean, Didier Graffet, Jesper Ejsing, Julien Delval
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Citadels support?
Citadels, especially with The Dark City expansion already included in the Brazilian edition, can be played by 2 to 8 players. It's quite flexible!
What is the average playtime for a game of Citadels?
A game of Citadels usually takes between 20 to 60 minutes. The duration varies significantly with the number of players and the group's familiarity with the game.
Is Citadels a complex game? Is it good for beginners?
It has a medium complexity (BGG weight of 2.05), making it accessible for beginners, yet with enough depth for experienced players. The rules are easy to learn, but mastering the bluffing and character selection strategies takes time.
What are the main components of the game?
The game primarily consists of cards: character cards, district cards, and gold cards. It's a very card-centric game with few other components.
What makes Citadels special? Who is it recommended for?
Citadels shines in player interaction, bluffing, and deducing which character your opponents have chosen. It's highly recommended for groups who enjoy card games with lots of interaction, 'take that' elements, and a dose of social strategy.
Does the Brazilian edition come with the expansion?
Yes! The Brazilian edition of Citadels already includes The Dark City expansion, which adds new characters and districts, increasing the variety and strategic possibilities of the base game.