Courtisans – Royal Intrigue & Bluffing Card Game

Welcome to the Queen's banquet, where royal influence is everything and nobody can be trusted. Courtisans by Catch Up Games is a fast, interactive card game of influence, secret objectives and calculated betrayal.

Guide Courtiers into the right places, manipulate the fortunes of six powerful families and use your cards to help yourself while disrupting your opponents. With simple rules, plenty of interaction and games lasting around 20 minutes, Courtisans is a brilliant family strategy and party card game.

What Is Courtisans?

Courtisans is a strategic card game for 2–5 players aged 8+, designed by Romaric Galonnier and Anthony Perone, with artwork by Noëmie Chevalier. Each game revolves around six royal families competing for influence at the Queen's banquet.

The clever part is that every turn gives you three cards—and three different places to play them. You influence the Queen's Table, build your own Domain and place a card in another player's Domain.

How to Play

On your turn, draw three Courtier cards.

Play one card at the Queen's Table to influence the status of its family. Cards can be placed above or below that family's column, helping determine whether the family becomes Esteemed or Disgraced.

Next, play one card in your own Domain and one in an opponent's Domain. This is where the intrigue really begins. The cards you collect can score points if their family is Esteemed, but lose points if that family becomes Disgraced.

Some Courtiers also have special abilities, while every player starts with a secret scoring objective that can change what you are trying to achieve.

At the end of the game, the status of each family determines the value of the Courtiers in every player's Domain. The player with the most points wins.

Why You'll Love Courtisans

• Simple but strategic: Easy rules with plenty of tactical choices.
• Highly interactive: Your cards can directly affect other players.
• Three cards, three decisions: Every turn presents interesting choices.
• Secret objectives: Hidden goals make every player's strategy harder to predict.
• Plenty of surprises: Family influence can change dramatically during the game.
• Quick to play: Around 20 minutes makes it perfect for repeat games.
• Great for groups: Works with 2–5 players and suits family and casual gaming.

Who Is Courtisans For?

Courtisans is ideal for families, casual gamers and players who enjoy interactive card games with bluffing, take-that elements and changing objectives.

If you enjoy Sushi Go!, Love Letter, Jaipur, Coup, Citadels or The Mind, Courtisans offers another accessible but surprisingly tactical experience.

Main Mechanics

• Card drafting
• Set collection
• Take-that
• Hidden objectives
• Area influence
• Hand management
• Tableau building
• End-game scoring
• Player interaction

Games Like Courtisans

Looking for similar games? Try Sushi Go!, Love Letter, Coup, Jaipur, Citadels or Castle Combo for more quick card-based strategy, hidden information and clever scoring.

Game Information

What's Included?

• 90 Courtier Cards
• 20 Secret Mission Cards
• 1 Game Mat
• 1 Rulebook

Courtisans FAQ

How many players can play Courtisans?
Courtisans supports 2–5 players.

What age is Courtisans for?
It is recommended for players aged 8 and over.

How long does Courtisans take to play?
A game takes around 20 minutes, with some listings giving a 20–30 minute range.

Is Courtisans a family game?
Yes. Courtisans has simple rules and a short playing time, while its secret objectives and changing family influence provide strategic depth.

How does scoring work in Courtisans?
At the end of the game, each family is either Esteemed or Disgraced depending on the balance of cards at the Queen's Table. Your Courtier cards then score positively or negatively based on their family's status.

Is Courtisans a bluffing game?
It isn't a traditional bluffing game, but hidden objectives, secret intentions and deliberately placing cards in opponents' Domains create plenty of uncertainty and psychological play.

Buy Courtisans from Roll The Dice Cornwall

Ready to join the Queen's banquet? Add Courtisans by Catch Up Games to your collection and manipulate royal influence, complete secret objectives and outwit your opponents in a fast game of medieval intrigue.