Too Many Cinderellas

About this board game

Too Many Cinderellas is a quick card game for 2–4 players that takes about 10 minutes, as powerful figures influence the Prince’s search for his true Cinderella.

After meeting Cinderella at a ball, the Prince falls in love with her and decides to marry her. Unfortunately, he remembers nothing about her. As he asks, “Does anyone know Cinderella?”, influential people spread rumors that their own servant is the real Cinderella.

Each player receives four cards, and the player with the smallest feet starts. Players take turns laying down cards that establish rules about which card will—or will not—be the true Cinderella. Whenever a new rule is proposed, everyone secretly votes on whether to accept it for the round.

• Play two cards per player to build the round’s rules.
• Use secret votes to accept or reject each proposed rule.
• Reveal hands and check which card matches every accepted rule.
• If there is a tie, the player with the highest card wins.

The player holding the card that satisfies all the rules wins the round and earns recognition for having the “true” Cinderella. The Prince’s decision can change as new conditions are introduced, so every card played helps shape the final answer.

With its compact play time and unusual fairy-tale premise, Too Many Cinderellas turns the search for a bride into a contest of influence and carefully accepted rules. It is game #3 in The Mike Line of games from Grail Games and was released in 2014.