I never imagined it would be this much fun to hunt down heretics (jk, I’m sure it’s good sport), but here we are!
Board Catholic has a fun group game, called “Council at Daybreak,” and it’s well on its way to be coming “THE game” we bring to parties with family and friends (alongside our other favorites, Monopoly Jr. and, funnily enough, The Catholic Card Game, also by Board Catholic).
They sent me a free game in exchange for a review, so here it is. I am not being paid to write this, nor do I have an affiliate link. This is just an honest assessment!
The object of the game is for the laity (the majority of the players) to uncover the heretic(s). They do so by convening a council, where they talk about which cards they know they have, who they might have switched with, and so on. If the laity are successful, they win!
However, if there heretics hold their poker faces and stump the laity, the heretics win.
This is meant to be a quick process, with each game lasting 10-15 minutes. You don’t have to be Catholic to play, but obviously the Catholic crowd will appreciate the characters represented, like the “Catholic Celebrity,” “Nosy Parish Worker,” “Homeschooler,” “Youth Group Kid,” and “The One Who Prays Lauds.”
Honestly, what makes the game slightly confusing is the initial immersion into the game. There are twelve different character profiles and understanding their roles can take a couple rounds.
Another hiccup we faced while learning the game was reconciling who could be the “Proclaimer” during the “night” phase, but that was easily resolved with the Council Card Game app, which corresponds with the cards you plan to use in the game. You probably have no idea what I’m talking about now, but you’ll understand when you have the game. You also can watch the demo on the product page.
Over all, however, it’s pretty easy to catch on, and even my 9-year-old was interested (recommended age is 13+ but you homeschoolers might have some precocious kids who would be worthy opponents
Here are my completely arbitrary ratings:
– Quick to learn – 4/5
– Clear instructions – 4.5/5
– Simplicity – 5/5 (not a ton of pieces)
– Amusing but not blasphemous – 5/5
– Luck/Strategy balance – 4.5/5
Total – 23/25 = 92% = A- (again, totally arbitrary, but that’s a pretty great score!)
Dave and I look forward to sharing this game with other friends – those who are quick on their feet, can have a good laugh, and are up for something new! And honestly, we’re 100% on-board (heh) with supporting small Catholic businesses, and Board Catholic has shown themselves to be
