Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Captain's Gambit is an asymmetric Shakespeare-inspired hidden role game.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Hidden Roles
Players conceal team, loyalty, or identity information from one another.
Push Your Luck
Choose whether to secure current gains or risk them for a larger reward.
Player Elimination
Players can be removed from contention before the game ends.
Take That
Direct negative effects at selected opponents.
Read the full game description
Captain's Gambit is an asymmetric Shakespeare-inspired hidden role game. Your secret objective depends on which alien captain you're given - for example, the technomancer Prospero must stockpile power, brainmother Lady Macbeth must bloody her hands, and Hamlet must assassinate a specific target. Each player has one captain card and two permit cards. Permit cards correlate to permit actions, which are powerful moves that can be bluffed. Since permit cards stay face-down, players can declare any action they would like - but other players can challenge that declaration if they're doubtful. Whoever loses the bluff call takes 3 damage! Since each captain's win condition is different, this means players can form unlikely alliances or make intriguing offers to get ahead. Captain's Gambit encourages players to engage in a high amount of table talk and persuasive efforts in order to win. —description from the designer