# Skull ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2011 - **BGG Rating**: 7.2 - **BGG Rank**: #493 - **Players**: 3-6 (Best with: 5) - **Duration**: 15-45 min - **Weight**: 1.11 / 5 - **Designers**: Hervé Marly - **Artists**: Rose Kipik, Thomas Vuarchex - **Publishers**: Lui-même, Boardgame Space, Brain Games, DiceTree Games, Galápagos Jogos, Geekach LLC - **Categories**: Bluffing, Card Game, Party Game - **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Auction: Turn Order Until Pass, Bids As Wagers, Hand Management, Player Elimination, Predictive Bid ## Verdict If you love outwitting your friends with clever bluffs and daring calls, Skull is an absolute must-play. It's a masterclass in social deduction where the tension builds with every disc placed. Pure, unadulterated bluffing fun Simple rules, deep strategy Engaging player interaction Quick to learn, satisfying to master Requires a good poker face Less engaging with quiet groups HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Skull is the quintessential bluffing game, where the real battle unfolds in the players' minds. Each participant starts with a set of discs, typically three roses and one skull. In each round, players place one disc face down in front of them. Then, in clockwise order, each player can choose to add another disc to their pile or initiate a bid. The bid involves declaring how many discs you can flip, starting with your own, revealing only roses. Other players can then raise this bid, claiming they can flip even more discs without encountering a skull. The player who makes the highest bid becomes the challenger. They must then flip the number of discs they promised, starting with their own and then choosing discs from opponents' piles. If they manage to flip only roses, they win the round and score a point. If, however, they reveal a skull at any point, they lose the round and one of their discs is permanently removed from the game. The first player to win two rounds is crowned the master bluffer. Skull is not a game of luck; it's a duel of poker faces and the ability to deceive, where reading opponents is crucial. Editions like Skull & Roses Red introduce minor variations, such as allowing each player to control two "biker gangs," but the core dynamic remains the same. Skull sets can be combined for games with more than six players, expanding the fun. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Welcome to Skull, a game of bluffing and daring! Your goal is simple yet thrilling: prove your courage and keen eye by successfully completing two challenges, or by being the last player standing with discs. It's a high-stakes game where what you don't say is just as important as what you do! Preparation (Setup) Getting ready for a game of Skull is quick and easy: Each player chooses one mat and their corresponding set of discs (which should include three flower discs and one skull disc). Each player then secretly chooses one disc from their hand and places it face down on their mat. This is your initial play! The player who starts the game is designated as the first player. The Game Turn A round of Skull unfolds in three exciting steps: Step 1 - Turn Preparation As mentioned in setup, each player starts by placing one disc face down on their mat. Step 2 - Adding a Disc or Challenge Starting with the first player and moving clockwise, each player must choose one of two actions: Add a Disc: Place another one of your discs face down on your mat, on top of any previously placed discs. This builds up your stack and potentially your bluff! Challenge: Instead of adding a disc, you can initiate a challenge by making a bid. The player who starts the challenge declares a number of discs they intend to flip. This bid must start with all of their own discs that are currently on their mat. Then, going clockwise, each subsequent player must either: Increase the Bid: Raise the number of discs they are willing to flip. Pass: Slide their mat forward, indicating they are out of the current round. This bidding continues until only one player remains who has not passed. This player is known as the Challenger, and their final bid is the number of discs they must attempt to flip. Step 3 - The Attempt Now comes the moment of truth! The Challenger must attempt to flip the number of discs they bid: The Challenger begins by revealing all of their own discs that are on their mat. They then continue to flip discs from the top of any other player’s stack, one at a time, until one of two things happens: A Skull is revealed: Oh no! The challenge has FAILED. They have successfully flipped over the number of discs they bid without revealing any Skulls: Hooray! The challenge is a SUCCESS. After the Attempt: If the Challenge FAILED (a Skull was flipped): The Challenger loses one of their discs. This disc is chosen at random, unless the Challenger chose to flip their own Skull, in which case they choose which disc to lose. If the Challenger lost their last disc, they are eliminated from the game. All players take back their discs. The owner of the revealed Skull starts the next round. If the Challenge SUCCESSFUL (no Skulls were flipped): The Challenger wins the challenge! They flip their mat flower-side up. If their mat is already flower-side up (meaning they've won a challenge before), they win the game immediately! All players take back their discs. The Challenger starts the next round. End of Game and Scoring A game of Skull can end in two exciting ways: Victory by Challenges: A player wins the game immediately if they successfully complete two challenges. This is indicated by their mat being flipped flower-side up twice. Victory by Elimination: If all other players have been eliminated (meaning they have lost all their discs), the last remaining player with discs wins the game! Tips for Winning To master Skull, keep these pointers in mind: Bluffing is Key: Don't just place flower discs! Sometimes, placing your Skull early can make other players hesitant to challenge your stack, allowing you to build up a strong position for a later bid. Read Your Opponents: Pay attention to how many discs other players are adding. A player who only places one disc might be trying to bait others into flipping their hidden Skull. Know When to Pass: You don't have to win every bid. Sometimes, passing and letting other players take risks is the smartest move, especially if you suspect a Skull is lurking in a stack. ## FAQ ### What is the recommended minimum age to play Skull? Skull is a very accessible game and is generally recommended for players aged 8 and up, but slightly younger children who already grasp the concept of bluffing can have a lot of fun. ### Is Skull a game of luck or strategy? Definitely more strategy! While there's a small element of luck in the initial setup, the game is all about bluffing, reading opponents, and risk management. It's a true test of your poker face. ### How long does a game of Skull last? Games are quite quick, usually between 15 and 45 minutes. It's ideal for filling a short gap or playing multiple rounds back-to-back. ### How many players can participate in a game of Skull? The base game supports 3 to 6 players. If you have two boxes of Skull, you can combine the components to play with more people, increasing the chaos and fun! ### Are Skull's components of good quality? Yes! Skull is known for its robust, high-quality thick cardboard discs, which resemble coasters. They are durable and have a great tactile feel. ### Is Skull a good game for board game beginners? Absolutely! Its rules are simple to explain and understand, making it an excellent gateway into the world of board games, especially for those who enjoy interaction and bluffing. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 64,90 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B08HSMQFNX?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2) - **Caixinha Boardgames**: R$ 106,02 (https://www.caixinhaboardgames.com.br/produtos/skull/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Overrun Geek Store**: R$ 107,91 (https://overrungeek.com.br/produtos/skull1/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **PlayEasy**: R$ 111,51 (https://www.playeasy.com.br/skull?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **JOY JOY STORE**: R$ 120,81 (https://loja.joyjoycafe.com.br/skull?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Brinka Brinquedos**: R$ 122,55 (https://brinkashop.commercesuite.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro/skull?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/skull ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.66 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5337517&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/3900/skull?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com