Love Letter

2012 · Deduction

Love Letter

Suitors try to deliver a sealed letter to a reclusive princess while blocking rivals from doing the same. Players hold one secret card, draw then play cards each turn from a tiny deck; cards grant abilities like looking at another hand, comparing values, or eliminating a player for the round. Rounds end when the deck runs out or only one player remains, and the highest-value hand (or last standing suitor) wins the round. Simple deduction, timed risk, and occasional luck drive play across multiple quick rounds.

Players
2–4 best 4
Playing time
20 min
Age
10+
Complexity
1.2 / 5
6.8 on Ludoyafrom $7.10Card GameRenaissanceTake ThatHand ManagementDeduction

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On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
2,265
Plays logged
1,447
Players
25m 8s
Average play
403
In collections
9
On wishlists

6.8/10

from 187 Ludoya reviews

  • Garfield6.0

    #13 Good game to play with non-boardgamer freaks ;) But don't play the 'big-box' version with 7 player. The can take 90min! *würg* [c] Theme: :nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]No --> Gameplay: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Sosolala --> Interaction: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Deduction/Guessing --> Artwork: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Ok --> Luck: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Pretty much depends on card drawing --> Strategy: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Little --> Components: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Big and thick cards --> Play duration: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Quick --> Easy to teach: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]No-Brainer --> No downtime: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Very, very little --> [/c]

  • Vic Granell6.5

    Got is as a gift at Dau con in Barcelona. Took me years to play it. It's surprising how much can a game do with just 16 cards! Not deep but interesting!

  • Daniel6.0

    A casa la Silvia

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

If I have the Countess and the King (or Prince) in my hand, do I have to discard the Countess—and do I have to show the other card?

Yes. If you ever have the Countess and either the King or Prince in your hand you must discard the Countess, and you do not have to reveal the other card (page 8).

If the Princess is discarded (by me or by another card), am I knocked out immediately and do other card effects still happen?

Yes — discarding the Princess knocks you out of the round immediately. If the Princess was discarded by a card effect, any remaining effects of that card do not apply (for example you do not draw from the Prince), although effects tied to being knocked out (such as Constable) still occur (pages 8, 11).

Does the Handmaid make me completely safe, and for how long?

When you discard the Handmaid you are immune to the effects of other players’ cards until the start of your next turn; if a card effect requires you to choose a player but all other players are protected, you must choose yourself (pages 9, 5).

When I play a Guard, can I name '1', or target a player who's protected by the Handmaid?

You cannot name '1' with the Guard — you must name a number other than 1; if the chosen player cannot be legally targeted (for example because of Handmaid protection), the Guard is discarded without effect (page 10; see Choosing a Player on page 5).

What happens when the draw deck runs out — how are ties resolved?

If the deck is empty at the end of a turn all remaining players reveal their hands and the highest-numbered card wins the round; ties are resolved by adding the values in each tied player's discard pile and the highest total wins, and if still tied all tied players win the round (page 6).

If I'm knocked out of the round, do I discard my hand and apply its effect?

No — when a player is knocked out they discard the card in their hand face up but do not apply that card’s effect, and they take no more turns for the round (page 5).

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.