Deadly Dowagers

Categories: Card Game, Humor, Murder/Mystery

Mechanics: Closed Drafting, Hand Management, Race

Players: 2–6

Ages: 14+

Playtime: 30–90 Min

Deadly Dowagers is a game of marriage, murder, and wealth, where you compete against other refined ladies in your town to strategically grow your dowry while avoiding too much infamy—lest the duke chooses another bride! You play as a middle-class Victorian woman who is willing to do anything to become a duchess. Born outside of aristocracy, your only chance to attract a noble is by amassing a sizable dowry. Luckily, your parents left you a small dowry and some land, which you must use to build wealth through investments and a series of strategic marriages.

The gameplay unfolds over several rounds, each divided into four distinct phases: drafting, investment, husband, and housekeeping. In each round, players draft cards in a pick-and-pass style, playing certain cards into their tableaus while using and discarding instant cards. Death cards allow players to partially reset their tableau and collect income. After discarding down to eight cards, players draft four new ones.

The game concludes when a player meets the following conditions: they have no current husband, no more than 9 infamy, spend 120 crowns, and play a remarry card to marry the Duke. The first player to achieve this wins the game.