Smell the Roses, Beware the Skulls: Skull Board Game Review

Reviewed by: Fwooshe

I glance around the table at my four poker-faced adversaries. They, like me, are contemplating their options: to place a flower for a chance at a victory point, or a skull, to thwart the enemy. I make my choice and lay a disc facedown. The others do the same. Around the table, one by one, my opponents proclaim the number of flowers they believe they can uncover.

It’s my turn. “Three!” I declare confidently. The next two players pass. I blink. While the third weighs the odds, my facedown skull lies in wait.

“Pass”

One last person is left to make their choice. I silently will them to call my bluff. One word and I will plummet directly into my own trap. I can feel the hungry eye sockets of my hidden skull pierce through the back of the disc…

A few weeks ago I was partying hard at my niece’s second birthday celebration. In between pizza and pink cupcakes my uncle asked the magic question: “Anyone want to play a board game?” Enter: Skull, the artistic poker-esque bluffing game.

Let’s Play Skull

Skull is a simple game that is as accessible as it is cutthroat. There are two ways to win:
1. Be the first player to score two points, or
2. Eliminate all other players

Skull Gameplay

Every player takes a set of four circular discs- three flowers and one skull, all with identical backs- as well as a square mat. Each round, a single point is up for grabs. At the start of the round, choose a disc (either a skull or a flower) to place facedown on your mat. Then, the first player will do one of three things:

• Place an additional disc facedown
• Declare the number of flowers they believe they can uncover (this could be sincere or a bluff)
• Pass

The rest of the players, progressing clockwise, similarly make their choice with two conditions:
1. Once a number has been declared, players may no longer opt to lay down additional discs
2. Any declared numbers must be higher than the previously declared number

This phase continues until all but one player has passed OR until someone declares the maximum number of flowers, which equals the total number of discs set on the table. This player, let’s say it’s you, proceeds to the next phase. You *must* turn over your own disc first. (Hopefully you weren’t bluffing!) Then, turn over one disc at a time in any order.

The round will have one of two outcomes:

• You succeed in uncovering the number of flowers that you declared without turning over any skulls. Congratulations! You score a point and are halfway to victory.
• You uncover a skull before reaching the required number of flowers. Randomly discard one of your discs for the rest of the game.

If you score a second point in a subsequent round, you win the game. If you lose all your discs you are eliminated from the game.

My Thoughts on Skull

I quite enjoyed my time playing Skull, though I did not leave hungry for more. In an abstract game like Skull, there is no narrative to captivate the players, and so the gameplay itself needs to knock it out of the park. Skull doesn’t quite get there. The gameplay is fun, but every round feels similar. At no point does the game “ramp up”. On the contrary, twice I ended up losing three of my four discs, which left me with no options and no chance to even pretend like I was contemplating a decision. Skull is primarily a bluffing game, but when all you have is a single flower there is no opportunity to engage in the core feature of the game!

Skull knows what kind of game it wants to be and, in my opinion, delivers exactly that. It is incredibly simple, yet engaging and competitive. Truthfully, the game could be played entirely with a deck of regular playing cards. But I do not hold this against it. I appreciate the clutter-free experience. Plus, the artwork on the discs is gorgeous.

Skull is a good game to whip out at parties and gatherings, though I am hesitant to categorize it as a “party game”. (I get more of a “pub game” vibe from it). Skull is refreshingly easy to teach and accommodates up to six players. Each round lasts only a few minutes and players can come and go in between rounds without disrupting the flow of the game.

Skull is a great option for:

• Scratching the Poker itch without the gambling and with minimalistic gameplay
• A quick “filler” game
• Groups with a wide range of abilities
• Parties and gatherings
• An introduction to some basic concepts of Poker
• People into the “skulls and flowers” aesthetic

I have no desire to buy my own copy of Skull, but if you invite me to play yours you can most certainly count me in!

Potential Caveats

• Requires a minimum of three players, preferably four
• Game components could theoretically be replaced by a regular deck of playing cards
• Discs are easily mistaken for coasters; someone may unknowingly place a drink on one