Pandasaurus Games has announced the upcoming release date of “Courtisans,” a new board game created by Romaric Galonnier and Anthony Perone, with artwork by Noëmie Chevalier. The game is scheduled for release in the United States on May 17, and will be priced at $24.95.
Designed for 2 to 5 players and suitable for ages 8 and up, “Courtisans” offers 20-30 minute sessions of gameplay. The game is set during a royal banquet, where players guide Courtiers around the hall to influence various families and secure points. Each player manages a set of Courtier cards divided among six families, with 15 cards per family.
In each turn, players draw three cards, choosing one to place at the Queen’s Table, one to keep in their own Domain, and one to place in an opponent’s Domain. The strategic placement of cards is key, as the cards can be positioned either above or below the family’s column at the Queen’s Table. The game concludes with families being classified as Esteemed or Disgraced based on their card positions, which affects the scoring of cards in each player’s domain.
Some Courtiers in the game have special powers when played, and each player begins with a secret scoring objective. The winner is the player who accumulates the most points through strategic card placement and the use of special abilities.