- Publisher(s) : Blind Cooks
- Designer(s) : Bastien Perez Assaël, Pierre Canali, Antoine Lagarde, Malo Willefert
- Artist(s) :
- Players : 2
- Playing time : 10 - 20 Min
- Weight BGG : 1.00
It's what ?
L’Ère des Masques is a bluffing and strategy game for 2 players in which you take on the roles of two rival figures seeking to seize control of Venice. To achieve this, you will use different Masks , divided into five colors, each possessing its own unique power.
How do we play?
In turn: draw or play a card
Now it’s your turn, you have two options:
Draw 2 cards : you take two cards from the draw pile and add them to your hand.
Playing a card : Choose a card from your hand and place it face down in your Play Area. When you play a face-down card, your opponent can try to guess its color , provided they have at least one card in their hand.
If your opponent makes a mistake , you reveal your card, apply its power, and keep it in your play area. However, your opponent must discard a card from their hand before the power is applied.
If your opponent finds the right color , the situation is reversed: they discard a card from their hand and apply the power of your card, while your played card is discarded instead of joining your Play Zone.
The race to victory
After each action, check if one of the two victory conditions is met:
- 4 cards of the same color in your Play Area;
- at least 1 card of each of the 5 colors .
As soon as a condition is met, the game stops immediately.
It's good ?
L’Ère des Masques
is a family-friendly bluffing game that’s quick to learn. The mechanics are very simple: either draw new cards, or play a card face down and let your opponent guess its color, if they wish.
The card powers add a second dimension to the game. They allow you to perform certain interesting actions without necessarily bringing you closer to a victory condition.
As in all bluffing games, the key is to try and read your opponent . You can try taking risks or, conversely, play it safe. On your turn, you also have the option of countering your opponent’s card or letting it pass, hoping it won’t allow them to get closer to victory.
The game is designed for families: no unnecessary rules or a multitude of actions to remember. There are only five different powers, although it will take a little time to master them and make the games flow more smoothly.
The materials are also nice, with cards featuring selective varnish that give the whole set a very attractive effect.
On the downside, the draw can sometimes favor one player, especially if the desired cards are slow to appear. The game remains fairly classic and enters a market increasingly dominated by bluffing games. Its simplicity might also be a drawback for players seeking greater depth or replayability.
In short, L’Ère des Masques is primarily aimed at those who enjoy bluffing games and want to discover a new one. With its five powers and two victory conditions, it offers a fairly classic face-down card system for the genre. Will the game be able to carve out a niche in this already crowded market? I’m not sure, but it’s still worth checking out.
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L'Ere des Masques review
Positives
- Simple rules and quick learning curve.
- Accessible bluffing and deduction mechanics.
- Five different powers that offer interesting choices.
- Games based on reading the opponent.
- Cards with a lovely selective varnish effect.
- An easy family game to take out.
Negatives
- A draw that can sometimes give one player an advantage.
- The mechanics are fairly classic for a bluffing game.
- Limited depth for experienced players.
- A lack of innovation to stand out from the competition.
