Guillotine

Overall score:

Produced by Wizards of the Coast, Guillotine is one of my favorite card games to pull out on board game night, or bring along during those hours spent at airports. The subject mater is macabre in the most hysterical of fashions, with simple game play and very nice artwork.

Guillotine, as hinted at in the name, takes place during the French Revolution where players, up to five, are rival executioners trying to gather the best collection of noble heads in a three day line up. Each day twelve nobles are dealt to the guillotine’s line, each noble worth a different number of points. The job of the players is to use their action cards to change the order of the line or add points to their own hand. The goal of the game is to have the most points at the end of all three days, with a maximum of five points being given for any noble – specifically Marie Antoinette and King Louie.

Some of the nobles have modifiers that change their card value, or increase value based on other heads collected. For example the Lord card gives an additional two points when paired with the Lady card, and the more Palace Guards collected the more each is worth. Some few cards are worth negative points, as examples of what happens when you go beheading the toothy Hero of the People or pitiable Martyr, and the Robespierre card ends the day no matter how many other nobles were lined up behind him.

Guillotineis a very fun party game, with a playing time of between 20-40 minutes depending on the number of players and how long each takes to deliberate. It’s nearly guaranteed to get people talking, but the irreverence and the subject matter may not appeal to everyone. The game is simple enough for players of all ages, but should likely be kept to the level of teenage and above. The box suggests 12 and up and I agree, as one must keep their sense of humor in place and tongue firmly in cheek.

Purchasing Guillotinewill put you out about twelve bucks, which is a dozen dollars well spent in this reviewer’s opinion.

Now where did that Fast Noble go?

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Written by JenaRey on April 13th, 2006