Game: The Grimm Masquerade

• Publisher: Skybound Games, Druid City Games
• Designers: Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, James Hudson
• Illustrated by: Mr. Cuddington
• 2-5 players
• Ages 8+
• 20-40 Minutes

There I was. I knew she was Red Riding Hood, and I had just drawn a disguise. This was my moment. She had one disguise already in front of her. I passed it over. She smiled. She then put the evidence marker on Red Riding Hood. What?!? Was she really the Big Bad Wolf all along? I drew my next card, the card I would keep. It was a spindle. I was unmasked and removed from the Beast’s Ball.

Playing with a pre-teen is killer, especially when she learned her competitive nature from you.

The Grimm Masquerade is a fun-filled deduction game that pits you against others trying to unmask each other at Beast’s Ball. Each player is a character straight out of Grimm’s Fairytales. You play as one of eight characters and each character is working to collect Boons (Good) and avoid Banes (Bad). Each turn a player will draw a card and either a)keep it face up in front of them or b)pass it to another player. Then they draw a card and do the opposite action. If someone collects three of their special Boon, they end the round and get the rose marker for that specific round. Roses act as Victory Points. This is Beast’s Ball after all. If you collect or acquire two of your Bane, you are unmasked.

Unmasking does not mean elimination. You still have the chance to mess with your fellow players and unmask them. When unmasked, you collect your cards. Then on your turn you will draw a card and give one of your artifacts (cards) to another player in hopes to kick them out of the Ball.

So what was pointing the finger about in the beginning title? It is about actions that players can do. When a player has two of an artifact, they have a chance to discard them and take one of three actions. These actions may cause players to place evidence markers on a character they are not, look at the guests who did not attend the ball or point the finger. Pointing the finger is accusing another player of being a character. If right, the accuser receives two roses and the accused turns over their character card. Then the broken mirror is placed over that player. If the accuser is wrong, the accused gets a rose and then places an evidence marker on that character. After three rounds, the player with the most roses wins!

Components

The artwork is stunning and beautiful. Each character has their own personal look that does not fit the Disney norm, and that is a good thing. The cards are solid and even the board is well done. There are additional components for advanced play and also to make it easier for a first time action.

Our Family’s Thoughts on the Grimm Masquerade

Abigail, 12: I like everything about it. I don’t like the putting the mirror on after you have been unmasked instead of before. It confuses me. I like how you have to try to unmask the other players before you get unmasked. I get excited when I know who someone is then I get to point a finger at someone. It has pretty good artwork too! Recommendation: Buy It!

Beth: I haven’t quite perfected the art of throwing people off my trail, but I still like to try. I like forcing people to identify who they are not, so I can narrow it down more. And there’s always the chance that I unmask them anyway. I do not like that the winners of the third round get so many more roses than anyone else, because it makes it harder to beat, but overall it’s an enjoyable family game and even when someone is out they are not fully out. So everyone still gets to play. Recommendation: Try it.

Chris: I loved teaching this at stores and at local game nights. This is a fun social deduction game that plays within a reasonable amount of time. I also appreciate that when someone is eliminated, they still have a chance to play. I know that feeling of being killed off, watching others play as I sit in my chair. Waiting for the rest to be done can be irritating and not enjoyable. I think with this player count and difference in style, this can be a great game for families who are wanting to not cause anyone to feel left out. Recommendation: Buy It!

Daniel, 11: It’s really fun how you can be different fairy tale characters. I like that you can give stuff to people to see if they really are that person. I like that if you are unmasked that you can still give stuff to other people. I like how there’s different actions you can do if you pay two cards. Buy It!

Elijah, 8: There’s different characters. It’s okay. I might like it. I like giving people cards that mess them up. I had guessed someone, and it was Daddy. I wasn’t certain and didn’t call it out. Recommendation: Try it.