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{{Short description|2012 card game}}
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'''Love Letter''' is a card game introduced in May 2012 and designed by Seiji Kanai.<ref name="Japan Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/31/national/indie-designer-kanai-carves-out-niche-with-analog-board-games/#.WKxez3rCuwQ|title=Indie designer Kanai carves out niche with analog board games|last=Otake|first=Tomoko|date=31 January 2014|accessdate=21 February 2017|publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref> It was produced in the United States by [[Alderac Entertainment Group]] (AEG) until 2018, when ''Love Letter'' was acquired by [[Z-Man Games]] (a subsidiary of [[Asmodee]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zmangames.com/en/news/2018/5/8/z-man-games-acquires-love-letter/|title=Z-Man Games Acquires Love Letter|date=8 May 2018|accessdate=4 February 2019|publisher=Z-Man Games}}</ref>
'''Love Letter''' is a card game introduced in May 2012 and designed by Seiji Kanai.<ref name="Japan Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/31/national/indie-designer-kanai-carves-out-niche-with-analog-board-games/#.WKxez3rCuwQ|title=Indie designer Kanai carves out niche with analog board games|last=Otake|first=Tomoko|date=31 January 2014|accessdate=21 February 2017|publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref> Its first English-language edition was produced in the United States by [[Alderac Entertainment Group]] (AEG) until 2018, when ''Love Letter'' was acquired by [[Z-Man Games]] (a subsidiary of [[Asmodee]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zmangames.com/en/news/2018/5/8/z-man-games-acquires-love-letter/|title=Z-Man Games Acquires Love Letter|date=8 May 2018|accessdate=4 February 2019|publisher=Z-Man Games}}</ref>


==Premise==
==Premise==
Each player aims to deliver a love letter to the princess with the assistance of collaborators.
Each player aims to deliver a love letter to the Princess with the assistance of relatives and acquaintances.


==Playing method==
==Gameplay==
At the start of each round, one card is dealt to each player, one is discarded face-down from the round (so the process of elimination cannot be used to prove which cards are left) and the rest are deposited face-down into a deck in the middle. During each player's turn, one card is drawn from the deck and the player gets to play either that card, or the card already in their hand. After processing the effect described on the played/discarded card, the next player to the left gets a turn. This is repeated until either the deck runs out, in which case the player holding the highest-strength card wins the round (if tied, then the player with the highest total strength of cards in their discard pile wins; original edition only), or all players but one are eliminated, in which case the remaining player wins the round. Once the round ends, the winning player receives a favor token. All cards are collected and shuffled, and play continues with a new round, where the winner of the previous round takes the first turn. The game ends when one player has obtained a predetermined number of favor tokens (from 3 to 7), depending on how many players are participating.
* At the start of each round, one card is discarded face-down (four cards if playing with two players; so the process of elimination cannot be used to prove which cards are left for the round), one card is dealt to each player and the rest are deposited face-down in the middle to form a draw deck.
* During each player's turn, one card is drawn from the deck and the player gets to play either that card or the card already in their hand.
* After processing the effect described on the played card, the next player to the left gets a turn.
* This process is repeated until either the deck runs out, in which case the player holding the highest-value card wins the round, or all players but one are eliminated, in which case the last player still in play wins the round.
* Once a round ends, the winner of the round receives a favor token. All cards are collected and shuffled, and play continues with a new round, with the winner of the previous round taking the first turn.
* The game ends when one player has obtained a predetermined number of favor tokens (from 3 to 7, depending on the number of players), winning the game for that player.


==Card types==
==Card types==
Following cards are available in the original edition of the game:<ref>{{cite web |title=Love Letter Rules |url=http://www.alderac.com/tempest/files/2012/09/Love_Letter_Rules_Final.pdf |publisher=[[Alderac Entertainment Group|AEG]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518034814/http://www.alderac.com/tempest/files/2012/09/Love_Letter_Rules_Final.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-18 |date=2012}}</ref><ref name="Z-Man Rules">{{cite web |title=Love Letter Rules |url=https://images.zmangames.com/filer_public/5b/6c/5b6c17d7-7e0e-4b70-a311-9a6c32066010/ll-rulebook.pdf |publisher=Z-Man Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521040204/https://images.zmangames.com/filer_public/5b/6c/5b6c17d7-7e0e-4b70-a311-9a6c32066010/ll-rulebook.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-21 |date=2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Below is the list of cards in the original edition of the game:<ref>{{cite web |title=Love Letter Rules |url=http://www.alderac.com/tempest/files/2012/09/Love_Letter_Rules_Final.pdf |publisher=[[Alderac Entertainment Group|AEG]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518034814/http://www.alderac.com/tempest/files/2012/09/Love_Letter_Rules_Final.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-18 |date=2012}}</ref><ref name="Z-Man Rules">{{cite web |title=Love Letter Rules |url=https://images.zmangames.com/filer_public/5b/6c/5b6c17d7-7e0e-4b70-a311-9a6c32066010/ll-rulebook.pdf |publisher=Z-Man Games |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521040204/https://images.zmangames.com/filer_public/5b/6c/5b6c17d7-7e0e-4b70-a311-9a6c32066010/ll-rulebook.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-21 |date=2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|+
!Card
!Card
!Strength
!Strength
!Count
!Number in deck
!class="unsortable"|Effects
!class="unsortable"|Effects
|-
|-
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|1
|1
|5
|5
|Player may choose another player and name any card in that player's hand, but not '''Guard'''. If the hand contains the card specified, that player is eliminated from the round.
|Player may choose another player and name a card other than the '''Guard'''. If the chosen player's hand contains the same card as named, that player is eliminated from the round.
|-
|-
|Priest
|Priest
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|3
|3
|2
|2
|Player may choose another player and privately compare hands. The player with the lower-strength card is eliminated from the round.
|Player may choose another player and privately compare hands. The player with the lower-value card is eliminated from the round.
|-
|-
|Handmaid
|Handmaid
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|7
|7
|1
|1
|If the player holds this card and either the '''King''' or the '''Prince''', this card must be played immediately, which otherwise does nothing.
|Does nothing when played, but if the player has this card and either the '''King''' or the '''Prince''' in their hand, this card must be played immediately.
|-
|-
|Princess
|Princess
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==Second Edition==
==Second Edition==
A second edition of Love Letter was released in 2019 with new artwork and the addition of five cards to support play by 2–6 players. This edition carries over all the cards in the basic version, but changes the strength values of the King, the Countess and the Princess to 7, 8 and 9 respectively. The five cards added in this edition include one additional Guard card and the following new cards:<ref name="Z-Man Rules" />
A second edition of Love Letter was released in 2019 with new artwork and the addition of five cards to support play by 2–6 players. This edition carries over all the cards from the original version, but changes the strength values of the King, the Countess and the Princess to 7, 8 and 9 respectively. The five cards added in this edition include one additional Guard card and the following new cards:<ref name="Z-Man Rules" />


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 81: Line 87:
!Card
!Card
!Strength
!Strength
!Count
!Number in deck
!class="unsortable"|Effects
!class="unsortable"|Effects
|-
|-
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|0
|0
|2
|2
|Does nothing when played, but if the player was the only one who played or discarded this card by the end of the round, they gain an additional favor token.
|Does nothing when played, but if the player is the only one still in play who has played or discarded this card by the end of the round, they gain an additional favor token.
|-
|-
|Chancellor
|Chancellor
|6
|6
|2
|2
|Player may draw two cards from the deck into their hand, then choose one of the three cards to keep for themselves, and place the other two on the bottom of the deck in any order.
|Player may draw two cards from the deck, then choose one of the three cards in their hand to keep, and place the other two at the bottom of the deck in any order.
|}
|}
This edition can also be played in accordance with the original version by removing the five additional cards, though this only supports 2–4 players.
This edition can also be played in accordance with the original version by removing the five additional cards, though this only supports 2–4 players.
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*2012 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection
*2012 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection
*2012 Dice Tower Best Family Game<ref name="Japan Times"/>
*2012 Dice Tower Best Family Game<ref name="Japan Times"/>
*2012 [[Origins Award]] for Best Traditional Card Game<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2014 Origins Winners Announced|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/28860/2014-origins-winners-announced|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-02|website=ICV2|language=en}}</ref>
*2012 [[Origins Award]] for Best Traditional Card Game<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2014 Origins Winners Announced|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/28860/2014-origins-winners-announced|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-02|website=ICV2|language=en}}</ref>


==Editions==
==Editions==
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!Language
!Language
!Notes
!Notes
⚫
|-
|''Love Letter''
|2012
⚫
|Kanai Factory
⚫
|Japanese
|The original edition of the game.
|-
|-
|''Love Letter''
|''Love Letter''
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|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
|The first edition of the game
|The first English-language edition of the game.
|-
|-
|''Love Letter: [[Legend of the Five Rings]] Edition''
|''Love Letter: [[Legend of the Five Rings]] Edition''
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|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
|Wedding-themed version of the game with corresponding art, only available directly from the publisher, and only to those celebrating their own or someone else's wedding
|Wedding-themed version of the game with corresponding art. Made specifically for wedding receptions and can only be ordered directly from the publisher.
|-
|-
|''Big Love Letter''
|''Big Love Letter''
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|"Postcard expansion" explaining how to use 2 sets of the base game to play with up to 8 players.
|"Postcard expansion" explaining how to use 2 sets of the base game to play with up to 8 players.
|-
|-
|''[[Munchkin (card game)|Munchkin]] Loot Letter'' <ref name=ars/>
|''[[Munchkin (card game)|Munchkin]] Loot Letter''<ref name=ars/>
|2014
|2014
|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
| Themed, identical rules to the original game. Includes one new card for ''Munchkin'' itself
|Themed, identical rules to the original game. Includes one new card for ''Munchkin'' itself.
|-
|-
|''Letters to Santa''
|''Letters to Santa''
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|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
|[[Christmas]]-themed edition, featuring characters such as [[Santa Claus]], snowmen, and reindeer
|[[Christmas]]-themed edition, featuring characters such as [[Santa Claus]], snowmen, and reindeer.
|-
|-
|''Love Letter: [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' <ref name=ars/>
|''Love Letter: [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''<ref name=ars/>
|2015
|2015
|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
| Themed, 17-card tie-in for the 2014 film ''The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies''. Two notable changes from the base game: it adds a "The One Ring" card , and includes two different versions of the Baron card.
|Themed, 17-card tie-in for the 2014 film ''The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies''. Two notable changes from the original game include the addition of "The One Ring" card and a 'Baron' card with different effects.
|-
|-
|''Love Letter: Batman'' <ref name=ars/>
|''Love Letter: Batman''<ref name=ars/>
|2015
|2015
|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
| [[Batman]]-themed version with a single rew rule.
|[[Batman]]-themed version with a single new rule.
|-
|-
|{{Nihongo foot|''[[Land of the Lustrous]] Card Game: "Love Letter"''|宝石の国カードゲーム 「ラブレター」}}
|{{Nihongo foot|''[[Land of the Lustrous]] Card Game: "Love Letter"''|宝石の国カードゲーム 「ラブレター」}}
|2015
|2015
|Kanai Factory
|
|Japanese
|Japanese
|Themed with some rules changes and new cards, included with the special edition release of volume 4 of the manga.
|Themed with some rules changes and new cards, included with the special edition release of volume 4 of the manga.
|-
|-
|''[[Adventure Time]]: Love Letter'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Adventure Time Love Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175307/adventure-time-love-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref>
|''[[Adventure Time]]: Love Letter''<ref>{{cite web|title=Adventure Time Love Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175307/adventure-time-love-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref>
|2015
|2015
|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
|Themed with 2 new rules.
|Themed with two new rules.
|-
|-
|''[[Star Wars]]: Secret Invasion'' ({{lang-ru|Звёздные войны: Тайное вторжение}})<ref name=ars/>
|''[[Star Wars]]: Secret Invasion'' ({{lang-ru|Звёздные войны: Тайное вторжение}})<ref name=ars/>
|2015
|2015
|Hobby World
|
|Russian
|Russian
|Themed, with 17 cards.
|Themed, with 17 cards.
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|AEG
|AEG
|English
|English
|An enhanced edition for up to 8 players with an additional set of cards
|An enhanced edition for up to 8 players with an additional set of cards.
|-
|-
|''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]: Once You Go Blackmail... ''<ref name=ars>{{cite web|last1=Mappin|first1=Don|title=Hobbit, Batman, Archer, Star Wars—the many faces of Love Letter|date=4 June 2016|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/06/hobbit-batman-archer-star-wars-the-many-faces-of-love-letter/|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref>
|''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]: Once You Go Blackmail...''<ref name=ars>{{cite web|last1=Mappin|first1=Don|title=Hobbit, Batman, Archer, Star Wars—the many faces of Love Letter|date=4 June 2016|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/06/hobbit-batman-archer-star-wars-the-many-faces-of-love-letter/|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]|accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref>
|2016
|2016
|AEG
|AEG
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|Themed TV tie-in.
|Themed TV tie-in.
|-
|-
|''Harap Alb Continues: A Love Letter Game'' ({{lang-ro|Harap Alb Continuă...: un joc Love Letter}}) <ref>{{cite web|title=Harap Alb Continuă... un joc Love Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/200699/harap-alb-continua-un-joc-love-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref>
|''Harap Alb Continues: A Love Letter Game'' ({{lang-ro|Harap Alb Continuă...: un joc Love Letter}})<ref>{{cite web|title=Harap Alb Continuă... un joc Love Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/200699/harap-alb-continua-un-joc-love-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}}</ref>
|2016
|2016
|cutia.ro
|cutia.ro
|Romanian
|Romanian
|Themed, based on the character of [[Harap Alb]]
|Themed, based on the character of [[Harap Alb]].
|-
|-
|{{Nihongo foot|''Osomatsu-san Love Letter Board Game''|おそ松さんラブレターボードゲーム}}
|{{Nihongo foot|''Osomatsu-san Love Letter Board Game''|おそ松さんラブレターボードゲーム}}
|2016
|2016
|Arclight
|Arclight
| Japanese
|Japanese
|Themed ''[[Mr. Osomatsu]]'' edition. Has a few notable rules modifications.
|Themed ''[[Mr. Osomatsu]]'' edition. Has a few notable rules modifications.
|-
|-
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|Expansion that adds 10 new characters.
|Expansion that adds 10 new characters.
|-
|-
|''Lovecraft Letter'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Lovecraft Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/198740/lovecraft-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}} </ref>
|''Lovecraft Letter''<ref>{{cite web|title=Lovecraft Letter|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/198740/lovecraft-letter|publisher=[[Board Game Geek]]|accessdate=2 June 2019}} </ref>
|2017
|2017
|AEG
|AEG<br>Z-Man Games
|English
|English
|Themed, based on [[H. P. Lovecraft|Lovecraft]]'s [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. Introduces new versions of the cards based on "insanity" powers.
|Themed, based on [[H. P. Lovecraft|Lovecraft]]'s [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. Introduces new alternative set of cards based on "insanity" powers. Re-released by Z-Man Games in 2021 with no significant changes.
⚫
|-
⚫
|{{Nihongo foot|''Love Letter from [[Yozakura Quartet|Yozakura]]''|ラブレター・フロム・ヨザクラ}}
⚫
|2018
|Kanai Factory
|Japanese
⚫
|Themed, included with the limited edition release of volume 22 of the manga.
|-
|-
|''Pummeleinhorn: The Super Cookie'' ({{lang-de|Pummeleinhorn: Der Superkeks}})
|''Pummeleinhorn: The Super Cookie'' ({{lang-de|Pummeleinhorn: Der Superkeks}})
Line 234: Line 252:
|Arclight
|Arclight
|Japanese
|Japanese
|Themed, based on''[[GameCenter CX]]'', featuring Shinya Arino from Japanese comic duo [[Yoiko]].
|Themed, based on ''[[GameCenter CX]]'', featuring Shinya Arino from Japanese comic duo [[Yoiko]].
|-
|-
|''Love Letter'' Second Edition
|''Love Letter Second Edition''
|2019
|2019
|Z-Man Games
|Z-Man Games
|English
|English
|Updated art and additional cards to support up to 6 players.
|Updated art and five additional cards to support up to 6 players.
|-
|-
|{{Nihongo foot|''[[Witch Hat Atelier|Witch Hat]]: Magic Test''|とんがり帽子の魔法試験|Tongari Bōshi no Mahō Shiken}}
|{{Nihongo foot|''[[Witch Hat Atelier|Witch Hat]]: Magic Test''|とんがり帽子の魔法試験|Tongari Bōshi no Mahō Shiken}}
|2019
|2019
|Arclight
|
|Japanese
|Japanese
|Themed, included with the special edition release of volume 5 of the manga
|Themed, included with the special edition release of volume 5 of the manga.
⚫
|-
⚫
|{{Nihongo foot|''Love Letter from [[Yozakura Quartet|Yozakura]]''|ラブレター・フロム・ヨザクラ}}
⚫
|2018
⚫
|Kanai Factory
⚫
|Japanese
⚫
|Themed, included with the limited edition release of volume 22 of the manga
|-
|-
|''Love Letter: Sender''
|''Love Letter: Sender''
|2020
|
|Z-Man Games
|
|English
|English
|Themed, free print-and-play online dating [[April Fools' Day]] edition for [[April Fools' Day]].
|Themed, free print-and-play online dating [[April Fools' Day]] edition for [[April Fools' Day]].
Line 265: Line 277:
|Japanese
|Japanese
|Themed, adds 3 new types of cards.
|Themed, adds 3 new types of cards.
⚫
|-
|''[[Danganronpa]]: Despair Love Letter''
|2020
|Arclight
|Japanese
|Themed Danganronpa tie-in, with new rules based on "Hope" and "Despair".
|-
|-
|''Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game''
|''Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game''
|2020
|2020
|Z-Man Games
|
|English
|English
|Themed [[Marvel Universe]] tie-in, for up to 5 players
|Themed [[Marvel Universe]] tie-in, with team-based gameplay rules pitting one player against the rest.
⚫
|-
|''Love Letter: Princess Princess Ever After''
|2021
|Renegade Game Studios
|English
|Themed, based on the novel series by Kay O'Neill, with a single new rule revolving around the 'Chancellor' card.
⚫
|-
|''Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter Game''
|2022
|Z-Man Games
|English
|Themed, with new rules based on the opposing factions.
⚫
|-
|''Love Letter 2nd Edition''
|2022
|Arclight
|Japanese
|Second Japanese-language edition of the game.
⚫
|-
|''Love Letter: 10th Anniversary Edition''
|2022
|Arclight
|Japanese
|Limited edition of the game.
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
==External links==
*{{bgg|129622|''Love Letter''}}
*{{bgg|129622|''Love Letter''}}
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[[Category:Dedicated deck card games]]
[[Category:Dedicated deck card games]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Draw and discard games]]

Latest revision as of 05:48, 17 March 2024

Love Letter
Court the Royal Princess of Tempest
Original box cover
DesignersSeiji Kanai
Publishers
Players
  • 2 to 4 (original)
  • 2 to 6 (Second Edition)
Playing time20 minutes

Love Letter is a card game introduced in May 2012 and designed by Seiji Kanai.[1] Its first English-language edition was produced in the United States by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) until 2018, when Love Letter was acquired by Z-Man Games (a subsidiary of Asmodee).[2]

Premise[edit]

Each player aims to deliver a love letter to the Princess with the assistance of relatives and acquaintances.

Gameplay[edit]

  • At the start of each round, one card is discarded face-down (four cards if playing with two players; so the process of elimination cannot be used to prove which cards are left for the round), one card is dealt to each player and the rest are deposited face-down in the middle to form a draw deck.
  • During each player's turn, one card is drawn from the deck and the player gets to play either that card or the card already in their hand.
  • After processing the effect described on the played card, the next player to the left gets a turn.
  • This process is repeated until either the deck runs out, in which case the player holding the highest-value card wins the round, or all players but one are eliminated, in which case the last player still in play wins the round.
  • Once a round ends, the winner of the round receives a favor token. All cards are collected and shuffled, and play continues with a new round, with the winner of the previous round taking the first turn.
  • The game ends when one player has obtained a predetermined number of favor tokens (from 3 to 7, depending on the number of players), winning the game for that player.

Card types[edit]

Below is the list of cards in the original edition of the game:[3][4]

Card Strength Count Effects
Guard 1 5 Player may choose another player and name a card other than the Guard. If the chosen player's hand contains the same card as named, that player is eliminated from the round.
Priest 2 2 Player may privately see another player's hand.
Baron 3 2 Player may choose another player and privately compare hands. The player with the lower-value card is eliminated from the round.
Handmaid 4 2 Player cannot be affected by any other player's cards until their next turn.
Prince 5 2 Player may choose any player (including themselves) to discard their hand and draw a new one.
King 6 1 Player may trade hands with another player.
Countess 7 1 Does nothing when played, but if the player has this card and either the King or the Prince in their hand, this card must be played immediately.
Princess 8 1 If the player plays or discards this card for any reason, they are eliminated from the round.

Second Edition[edit]

A second edition of Love Letter was released in 2019 with new artwork and the addition of five cards to support play by 2–6 players. This edition carries over all the cards from the original version, but changes the strength values of the King, the Countess and the Princess to 7, 8 and 9 respectively. The five cards added in this edition include one additional Guard card and the following new cards:[4]

Card Strength Count Effects
Spy 0 2 Does nothing when played, but if the player is the only one still in play who has played or discarded this card by the end of the round, they gain an additional favor token.
Chancellor 6 2 Player may draw two cards from the deck, then choose one of the three cards in their hand to keep, and place the other two at the bottom of the deck in any order.

This edition can also be played in accordance with the original version by removing the five additional cards, though this only supports 2–4 players.

Awards won[edit]

Love Letter has received the following awards:[5]

  • 2014 Deutscher Spiele Preis, 4th place
  • 2014 Spiel des Jahres recommended
  • 2014 Origin Awards Best Traditional Card Game
  • 2014 Guildbrikken Best Family Game
  • 2014 Fairplay A la Carte
  • 2013 Golden Geek Best Party Board Game
  • 2013 Golden Geek Best Innovative Board Game
  • 2013 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game
  • 2013 Golden Geek Best Card Game
  • 2012 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters' Selection
  • 2012 Dice Tower Best Family Game[1]
  • 2012 Origins Award for Best Traditional Card Game[6]

Editions[edit]

In addition to foreign language editions, many are themed:

Name Date Publisher Language Notes
Love Letter 2012 Kanai Factory Japanese The original edition of the game.
Love Letter 2012 AEG English The first English-language edition of the game.
Love Letter: Legend of the Five Rings Edition 2014 AEG English Themed, new art, identical rules to the original game.
Love Letter: Wedding Edition 2014 AEG English Wedding-themed version of the game with corresponding art. Made specifically for wedding receptions and can only be ordered directly from the publisher.
Big Love Letter 2014 Pegasus Spiele German "Postcard expansion" explaining how to use 2 sets of the base game to play with up to 8 players.
Munchkin Loot Letter[7] 2014 AEG English Themed, identical rules to the original game. Includes one new card for Munchkin itself.
Letters to Santa 2014 AEG English Christmas-themed edition, featuring characters such as Santa Claus, snowmen, and reindeer.
Love Letter: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies[7] 2015 AEG English Themed, 17-card tie-in for the 2014 film The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Two notable changes from the original game include the addition of "The One Ring" card and a 'Baron' card with different effects.
Love Letter: Batman[7] 2015 AEG English Batman-themed version with a single new rule.
Land of the Lustrous Card Game: "Love Letter"[8] 2015 Kanai Factory Japanese Themed with some rules changes and new cards, included with the special edition release of volume 4 of the manga.
Adventure Time: Love Letter[9] 2015 AEG English Themed with two new rules.
Star Wars: Secret Invasion (Russian: Звёздные войны: Тайное вторжение)[7] 2015 Hobby World Russian Themed, with 17 cards.
Love Letter Premium[10] 2016 AEG English An enhanced edition for up to 8 players with an additional set of cards.
Archer: Once You Go Blackmail...[7] 2016 AEG English Themed TV tie-in.
Harap Alb Continues: A Love Letter Game (Romanian: Harap Alb Continuă...: un joc Love Letter)[11] 2016 cutia.ro Romanian Themed, based on the character of Harap Alb.
Osomatsu-san Love Letter Board Game[12] 2016 Arclight Japanese Themed Mr. Osomatsu edition. Has a few notable rules modifications.
Love Letter: Erweiterung 2017 Pegasus Spiele German Expansion that adds 10 new characters.
Lovecraft Letter[13] 2017 AEG
Z-Man Games 		English Themed, based on Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Introduces new alternative set of cards based on "insanity" powers. Re-released by Z-Man Games in 2021 with no significant changes.
Love Letter from Yozakura[14] 2018 Kanai Factory Japanese Themed, included with the limited edition release of volume 22 of the manga.
Pummeleinhorn: The Super Cookie (German: Pummeleinhorn: Der Superkeks) 2018 Pegasus Spiele German Themed, based on Pummeleinhorn (Chubby Unicorn).
Chief Arino's Love Letter[15] 2019 Arclight Japanese Themed, based on GameCenter CX, featuring Shinya Arino from Japanese comic duo Yoiko.
Love Letter Second Edition 2019 Z-Man Games English Updated art and five additional cards to support up to 6 players.
Witch Hat: Magic Test[16] 2019 Arclight Japanese Themed, included with the special edition release of volume 5 of the manga.
Love Letter: Sender 2020 Z-Man Games English Themed, free print-and-play online dating April Fools' Day edition for April Fools' Day.
Touhou Bomb Letter: Delivery Barrage![17] 2020 Arclight Japanese Themed, adds 3 new types of cards.
Danganronpa: Despair Love Letter 2020 Arclight Japanese Themed Danganronpa tie-in, with new rules based on "Hope" and "Despair".
Infinity Gauntlet: A Love Letter Game 2020 Z-Man Games English Themed Marvel Universe tie-in, with team-based gameplay rules pitting one player against the rest.
Love Letter: Princess Princess Ever After 2021 Renegade Game Studios English Themed, based on the novel series by Kay O'Neill, with a single new rule revolving around the 'Chancellor' card.
Star Wars: Jabba's Palace – A Love Letter Game 2022 Z-Man Games English Themed, with new rules based on the opposing factions.
Love Letter 2nd Edition 2022 Arclight Japanese Second Japanese-language edition of the game.
Love Letter: 10th Anniversary Edition 2022 Arclight Japanese Limited edition of the game.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Otake, Tomoko (31 January 2014). "Indie designer Kanai carves out niche with analog board games". The Japan Times. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Z-Man Games Acquires Love Letter". Z-Man Games. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Love Letter Rules" (PDF). AEG. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Love Letter Rules" (PDF). Z-Man Games. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 May 2021.
  5. ^ Love Letter Page at Boardgame Geek
  6. ^ "2014 Origins Winners Announced". ICV2. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e Mappin, Don (4 June 2016). "Hobbit, Batman, Archer, Star Wars—the many faces of Love Letter". Ars Technica. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  8. ^ 宝石の国カードゲーム 「ラブレター」
  9. ^ "Adventure Time Love Letter". Board Game Geek. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Love Letter Premium Edition" (PDF). alderac.com. AEG. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Harap Alb Continuă... un joc Love Letter". Board Game Geek. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  12. ^ おそ松さんラブレターボードゲーム
  13. ^ "Lovecraft Letter". Board Game Geek. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  14. ^ ラブレター・フロム・ヨザクラ
  15. ^ 有野課長のLove Letter, Arino-kachō no Love Letter
  16. ^ とんがり帽子の魔法試験, Tongari Bōshi no Mahō Shiken
  17. ^ 東方ボムレター -届け弾幕!-, Touhou Bomb Letter: Todoke Danmaku!

External links[edit]

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