Love Letter
Alderac Entertainment Group, Kanai Factory, (Web published) · Board game · 2012
2–4 · best 4
20 min
Weight 1.2/5
Buy · from US$ 2.06
7.6
rating
Ludopedia
7.2
rating
BGG
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Soundtrack
Learn to play
Step by step, manual and videos
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
If you're looking for a quick, clever game of deduction and bluffing, Love Letter is a brilliant choice that proves less is often more. It's perfect for those who enjoy big decisions in a small package.
Highlights
- Elegant deduction and bluffing gameplay
- Extremely portable and quick to play
- High replayability in a tiny box
- Engaging tension with few components
Keep in mind
- Can feel random with bad draws
- Limited strategic depth for some
About the game
What you do in a play session
Love Letter is a minimalist card game that packs a punch of bluffing, deduction, and tension. Set in the kingdom of Tempest, the goal is simple: deliver your love letter to Princess Annette while sabotaging your rivals. Each game starts with just one card in hand (and one card mysteriously removed from the 16-card deck), creating a cat-and-mouse game where you must guess what others hold. Playing a powerful card gives you an immediate edge but paints a target on your back. Weaker cards are safe but might leave your love letter literally burning in the fire. In 20 minutes, you experience a courtly micro-drama full of twists, where a single round can decide everything. It's one of those games that proves you don't need a thousand components to be brilliant—just a velvet bag, 16 cards, and plenty of trash talk after your opponent's move.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
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Love Letter in the Classroom- by the Board Game Teacher
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How to Play Love Letter | Board Game Rules & Instructions
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How to play Love Letter
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Love Letter - How to Play in 3 minutes - BoardgameNinja
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How to Play Love Letter in less than 4 minutes
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Love Letter - Simple Strategy
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Love Letter | HOW TO PLAY
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So, You Want to Play Love Letter
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BoardGameCavern plays LOVE LETTER
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Come Play With E! Letters to Santa Edition
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How to Play Love Letter (B&B Live Teach)
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How to Play: Love Letter
Rules manual
Official PDF file
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
OK
3
REC
4
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Alderac Entertainment Group, Kanai Factory, (Web published), 963.com, 999 Games, Arclight Games
Designer
Seiji Kanai
Artist
Andrew Hepworth, Jeff Himmelman, John Kovalic, Kali Fitzgerald, Nina Matsumoto, Robb Miller
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
118,575owners
4,888wishlist
325want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
How many players?
2-4 players. With 2, it's more cerebral and pure bluff; with 3-4, interaction and deduction ramp up significantly.
Average game length?
About 20 minutes. It's a quick filler, perfect for bridging gaps between heavier games or for multiple rounds in a row.
Is it hard to learn?
Not at all! The rules fit on one card. Complexity comes from decisions and reading opponents, not the mechanics themselves.
What's in the box?
A velvet bag, 16 illustrated cards, 'heart' tokens for scoring, and a very short rulebook.
Is there a lot of luck?
There's a dose of luck in the draw, but the game is dominated by bluffing, deduction, and calculated risk. Skilled players usually win.
Can kids play?
Yes, from about 8-10 years old, as long as they grasp basic bluffing. It's a great gateway to modern card games.
What is 'player elimination'? Does it hurt?
It means you can be 'knocked out' of a round if your card is discovered. But with 20-minute games, you're back in the next round in 5 minutes!
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