2025 · Political

23 Knives

Players take on the roles of Roman citizens with one of three allegiances—loyalists, liberators, or opportunists—during the tense days before the Ides of March. On each turn players move through locations in Rome, manipulate and sway other citizens, and play influence to shift loyalties. Knives represent assassination momentum: players place or remove them in the Curia as they build support for or against killing Caesar. The game ends when the tableau determines whether 23 or more knives reside in the Curia; if so, the most committed liberator wins, otherwise the most dedicated loyalist wins. Opportunists score by timing switches and coordinating late-game shifts.

groupPlayers

3–8 best 5

schedulePlaying time

30–60 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

2.3 / 5