Silencio

About this board game

Silencio is a cooperative card game for 2–4 players in which everyone works as a team without speaking. Your shared goal is to discard as many cards as possible, aiming for a score of zero.

Each player begins with cards from four suits. During play, every card must be higher in value than the previously played card of the same suit. The way a card relates to that sequence determines whether the team gains an advantage or faces a complication.

• A direct successor is played with its dark side visible, triggering that card’s penalty.
• A card that is not the direct successor is played with its light side visible, offering a bonus if you choose to use it.
• Penalties can require the next card to be a particular color or make you give another player a face-up card from the Oracle.
• Bonuses can let you ignore the next penalty or place a card from your hand face up for anyone to play.

Five shrines add further opportunities: one multicolor shrine and one shrine for each color. Before or after your card play, you may flip a shrine face down to use its bonus, making timing and silent coordination especially important.

If you cannot play, or have no cards in hand, you must pass. When all players pass in succession, the game ends, and the team scores according to the number of cards remaining in everyone’s hands. In Silencio, careful card management must replace spoken communication.

Difficulty can be adjusted with optional components. The tavern card provides limited information about a player’s hand a few times per game, while removing some or all shrines eliminates their extra bonuses for a tougher challenge.