a game of secrets, risk, and getting caught in the act.
At Ligare, we believe the best connections happen right after someone confidently plays the wrong card — or gets caught in the act trying not to. Whether you’re brand new to Love Letter or just need a quick refresher, here’s everything you need to know to play with confidence, take a few risks, and maybe reveal more than you intended to along the way.
so you want to send a
love letter
objective: outlast everyone else by keeping the highest card you can— or by catching your opponents in the act and knocking them out first.
what the game is:.
Love Letter is a fast, elegant card game about hidden information, risky guesses, and trying not to reveal too much too soon. You’re holding secrets, watching others closely, and deciding when to stay quiet — and when to make a move that might get someone caught in the act.
why we chose it for ligare:
Love Letter creates tension without heaviness. It’s simple to learn, quick to play, and immediately social. Every round invites bold plays, playful accusations, and moments of surprise when someone’s plan is exposed. You’ll bluff. You’ll guess wrong. You’ll confidently accuse someone who was absolutely innocent. Someone will get caught in the act — maybe you. That’s the point.
how it works: draw a card. play a card. pretend you totally meant to do that. don’t get caught.
setup:
Shuffle the deck and deal one card to each player, face down. Set one card aside without looking at it, then place the rest of the deck in the center. Everyone keeps their card secret.
game overview:
On your turn, draw one card. Now you have two. Choose one to play, place it face up, and resolve its effect immediately. Cards let you guess, protect yourself, force discards, or quietly observe. When the deck runs out or only one player remains, the round ends and the highest card still in hand wins.
playing cards
at any point, you have no more than 2 cards. you are always choosing who you want to keep as your messenger to the Princess. Each card has a different effect, and a number. At the end of the round,if multiple players are left standing, the highest number wins.
The most common card is the guard. Keep track of what others play—the more you know, the more likely you can take them out with a guard. Higher cards are characters closer to the Princess, and they have bigger and riskier effects. The King will let you trade hands. The Countess will betray you if you draw the King.
The best—and most dangerous—card is the Princess, who cannot be played or discarded. If you stay alive, you win the round—but it’s easy to get caught in the act.
winning the round
the round wins when the deck is empty, or when only one player remains. Whoever has the highest value card wins an affection token, or one point. Play again, get to know your table better, and try not to get caught in the act this time.
at ligare, we play to connect.
Whether you win the round, or get caught in the act right when you draw the Princess, we hope you leave the table a little more exposed and a lot more connected than when you sat down.
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