Masquerade

About this board game

Masquerade is a Japanese fantasy card game for 3–5 players, with a playing time of about 90 minutes. Each player controls a powerful entity seeking to take over a fantasy- and manga-themed world.

At the heart of the game are secret masks, each concealing a hidden victory-point bonus. Players send out a dancer to perform different functions across six stages, or adventure places. The choices made at these locations help shape each player’s approach to the contest.

Players can pursue a variety of goals during the game. They may collect spell cards, recover health, trigger events, battle monsters for treasure, or fight other players for victory points. The spell cards have a musical theme, with names such as Nocturne and Fugue.

• Secret masks with hidden victory-point bonuses
• Dancers with variable powers
• Six adventure places offering different functions
• Spell cards, monster battles, treasure, events, and player combat
• A small deck of notably sturdy cards

Masquerade uses relatively few luck-based elements, but its many card effects and changing dancer powers create a distinctly chaotic experience. Players must adapt as the situation develops while looking for the best route to victory.

With its compact card-based format and broad assortment of game elements, Masquerade supports a variety of strategies. The combination of hidden information, powerful entities, magical effects, and direct competition gives each session a lively fantasy atmosphere.