Mistruth
- Board's Eye View
- 41 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Mistruth is a deduction & deception card game for 3-6 players. You play with a deck that contains the number of sets that matches the number of players, plus a Mistruth card. Players are trying to collect a set of four identical cards and, most important, not be the player holding the Mistruth card at the end of the game (ie: when any player ends his turn with a set of four identical cards).
Players each have a hand of four cards but one player is dealt a fifth card. The player who has five cards is always the active player. Players can discuss what cards they hold but they cannot show each other their hands. The active (5 card) player offers a face-down card to their neighbour. They say what it is but they don't have to tell the truth. The neighbouring player can ask to be offered another card, and again that's offered face down. If the neighbouring player doesn't want to take either of the cards offered, they can ask for another card from the three in the active player's hand, but they must then take the card that the active player gives them from among those three cards. Whichever card they took, the neighbouring player now has five cards and is the active player offering a card...
It's a simple game but the apparent simplicity of the rules is as deceptive as the players are likely to be. Tho' you want to get a set of four matching cards, this is primarily a pass-the-parcel/musical chairs type game where the priority is simply not to be the player who is left holding the Mistrust card when the game ends because that's the player who loses. You'll need to make judgement calls about other players' hands and honesty based on what they say and the expressions on their faces...
Most of our plays of Mistruth at Board's Eye View have taken around 15 minutes, often provoking calls for an immediate replay. You can't declare a set to end the game until everyone has had at least one opportunity to be the active player, so if you've managed to collect a set early you'll need to practise your poker face!
Mistruth is coming soon to Kickstarter. Click here now to register your interest.
