Love Letter Rules

Game Overview

Love Letter is a fast-paced, competitive card game designed by Seiji Kanai and published by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG). Originally released in Japan as "Takoyaki" in 2012, it gained international popularity under the name Love Letter when it was translated and distributed in North America. The game is suitable for 2-4 players and requires only a standard deck of 16 specially designed cards, four reference cards, and tokens of affection to play. You can purchase the game on Amazon here.

Objective

In Love Letter, players take on the role of suitors vying for the affection of Princess Annette, who has locked herself away in the palace following her mother's arrest. Each player aims to have their love letter delivered to the princess before their opponents, with the first suitor to gain her favor winning the game.

Setup

To set up Love Letter, shuffle the 16 cards to form a face-down draw deck. Remove the top card of the deck from the game without looking at it. If you are playing a two-player game, take three more cards from the top of the deck and place them to the side, face up. These extra cards will not be used during this round. Each player draws one card from the deck, keeping their hand secret from the others. The person who was most recently on a date goes first (if tied, the younger player wins the tie).

How to Play

Love Letter is played in a series of rounds, with each round representing one day. At the start of each turn, players draw the top card from the deck and add it to their hand. They then choose one of the two cards in their hand and discard it face up in front of them. The chosen card's effect is applied before the next player takes their turn. All discarded cards remain in front of the player who discarded them, overlapping the previous cards to help players deduce which cards others might be holding.

Here's a concrete example: Suppose you are holding the Guard (which allows you to choose and discard another player's card) and the Minion (a low-ranking servant that can protect you from other cards). On your turn, you draw a Princess (a high-ranking character who would normally win the round if played alone). Instead of playing either of these cards, you choose to discard the Guard, allowing you to select one of your opponents' cards and force them to discard it. You then discard the Minion, protecting yourself from any negative effects that might come your way.

Scoring and End of Game

A round ends when the deck is empty at the end of a turn or if all players but one are out of the round. The player with the highest-ranked person in their hand wins the round, with ties broken by the player who discarded the highest total value of cards. A player wins the game after winning a number of tokens based on the number of players: 2 Players: 7 tokens, 3 Players: 5 tokens, 4 players: 4 tokens.

Common Variants

There are several variants of Love Letter available, including the premium edition and a Legend of The Five Rings version. These variations offer new cards and unique gameplay experiences while retaining the core mechanics of the original game.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting the order of discarded cards: Overlapping discarded cards helps players deduce which cards other players might be holding, so it's essential to follow this rule correctly.
2. Cheating with the Guard: While it can be tempting to cheat when using the Guard card, doing so is not in the spirit of the game and may lead to a less enjoyable experience for all participants.
3. Neglecting to apply card effects: Players must always apply the effect of the card they discard, even if it is detrimental to their position. Ignoring these effects can significantly impact your chances of winning.

FAQ

1. Can I play Love Letter with more or fewer than 4 players? Yes, the game is designed for 2-4 players, but you can adjust the number of tokens required for victory to accommodate different player counts. For example, if you have only two players, they would need to win 7 tokens instead of the standard 5 or 4.
2. Can I shuffle the discard pile and use it as a draw deck during the game? No, once a card is discarded, it should not be returned to the deck for future draws.
3. What happens if multiple players have the same highest-ranked person in their hand at the end of a round? In case of a tie, the player who discarded the highest total value of cards wins the round. If there is still a tie, continue to compare and add up card values until one player emerges victorious.
4. Is it okay to play Love Letter with younger children? While Love Letter can be a fun and engaging game for families, its themes and mechanics may not be suitable for very young children. It's recommended to evaluate the content's appropriateness based on your child's maturity level and understanding of the game's objectives.