The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village (2009) Board Game

The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village is a social deduction game that was released in in 2009. It was designed by Philippe des Pallières and Hervé Marly and published by Lui-même. The game is set in the fictional village of Miller’s Hollow, where players take on various roles such as villagers, werewolves, and other mysterious characters.

Game Components of The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village

Characters and Role Cards: Each player receives a card indicating their role, such as Werewolf, Ordinary Townsfolk, or special characters like The Sheriff, The Hunter, the Witch, and more.

Moderator or Game Master: Essential for controlling the flow of the game.

Additional Components: The Village version includes new occupations and buildings, adding more dimensions to the game.

How To Setup The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village

To set up the game, a game master randomly distributes the role cards to each player. The game master guides the players through the night and day phases. Before the game starts, the game master explains the rules and ensures each player understands their secret role. The setup is straightforward, with the game master prompting the players to close their eyes during the night phase and directing the werewolves to select a victim through gestures.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Day-Night Cycle: The game alternates between night and day phases. During the night, werewolves secretly choose a villager to kill. During the day, the villager who was killed is revealed, and the remaining villagers vote on a player they suspect is a werewolf.

Special Roles: Roles like The Sheriff, The Hunter, and the Witch have special abilities that can influence the game. The Sheriff’s vote counts as two, and other characters can provide clues or protect villagers.

Objective: The townsfolk aim to eliminate all werewolves, while the werewolves aim to eliminate all townspeople.

Player Experience

The game is highly interactive and engaging, requiring players to use bluffing, deception, and strategy to uncover the werewolves or avoid being detected. Players must pay close attention to the debates and actions of others to make informed decisions. The dynamic nature of the game, with chance determining each player’s role, ensures that each game is different and keeps players on their toes.

Pros

High Replayability: Each game is unique due to the random assignment of roles.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules and self-explanatory cards make it accessible to players of all ages.

Social Interaction: Encourages bluffing, debate, and social deduction skills.

Scalable: Can be played with a large number of players, from 8 to 29 in The Village version.

Cons

Spelling Errors: Some players have noted minor spelling errors in the instructions, though this does not affect gameplay.

Requires Large Group: The game needs a minimum of 8 players to be enjoyable.

Personal Thoughts on The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village

This game is perfect for family game nights, especially with teens, due to its quick playtime and engaging nature. It fosters critical thinking, social interaction, and strategic planning. The Village version, with its additional roles and buildings, adds a new layer of complexity and fun for experienced players. If you enjoy social deduction games and are looking for a dynamic, entertaining experience with a large group, The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow: The Village is an excellent choice.

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