# Reapers

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 7.0
- **BGG Rank**: #10263
- **Players**: 3-5 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 30-60 min
- **Weight**: 2.00 / 5
- **Designers**: Daniel Newman
- **Artists**: Daniel Newman, Imogen Oh
- **Publishers**: New Mill Industries, Amatsubu Games
- **Categories**: Card Game, Horror
- **Mechanics**: Betting and Bluffing, Open Drafting, Predictive Bid, Trick-taking

## Verdict
Perfect for trick-taking fans looking for more agency and a cool gothic aesthetic.Open draft adds great strategic depthIntriguing predictive betting systemFast and dynamic gameplayImmersive horror themeCan be brutal for newcomersRequires constant focus on opponentsRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ever played a classic trick-taking game like Hearts or Spades, but wished it had a sinister vibe and mechanics that truly challenge your brain? Meet Reapers. Imagine you're part of a deadly cabal of necromancers who, to blow off steam between rituals, decide to wager damned souls in a high-stakes card game. The atmosphere is grim, but the gameplay is all about strategy and malice.

What sets Reapers apart from your typical trick-taker is how you build your hand. Forget random dealing; here, you use open drafting, picking your cards from face-up piles on the table. This changes the entire dynamic, as you know exactly what your opponents are hoarding. Furthermore, the scoring is twisted: the winner of a trick doesn't just take the points, but rather the lowest-value card in that trick. It's a game of avoiding the worst while trying to sabotage everyone else.

The real kicker is the predictive betting. Before each hand, you place a wager on your expected performance: do you aim for the lowest score? Do you want to land in second place? Or do you prefer to play it safe and not predict at all? Each path is a viable strategy and can lead you to glory or ruin. Depending on the edition, the theme shifts from methods of death (poisons, daggers) to forest animal skulls, but the core remains: be the reaper, or be reaped.

With easy-to-learn rules (2/5 weight) but considerable tactical depth, Reapers is perfect for those who love fast-paced, competitive games with a touch of gothic horror. Get your best bluff ready and try not to lose all your souls in the process!

## FAQ
### Is the game hard to learn?
Not at all! It has a 2/5 weight, meaning the basic rules are straightforward, while the betting and drafting provide the depth.

### How long does a game take?
Usually between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how cautious (or mean) the players are.

### Do I need previous card game experience?
It helps if you're familiar with 'trick-taking' games (like Hearts), but the manual explains everything from scratch.

### Does it work well with the minimum player count?
Yes, with 3 players the drafting dynamic is very tight, while with 5 it becomes more chaotic and unpredictable.

### Is the horror theme too intense?
No, it's a stylized gothic horror focused on necromancy and souls, without being visceral or disturbing.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7032796&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
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