Deal with the Devil, designed by Matūj Šoch and published by CGE, presents itself as a grand experiment in merging euro-style mechanics with hidden role and app-driven interactions. Players take on secret roles as Mortals, a Cultist, or the Devil, navigating resource management, reputation, and debt mechanics in a medieval setting. Despite this ambitious premise, the game stumbles at nearly every turn. Clunky mechanics, isolated gameplay, and reliance on an app that hampers interaction turn this game into a frustrating experience.
Medieval Intrigue Falls Flat
The premise of Deal with the Devil is intriguing: players control kingdoms striving for prosperity while harboring secrets about their roles. The Mortals seek to maintain their souls, the Cultist secretly conspires, and the Devil looks to trade souls for dominance. However, the thematic elements fail to engage. The app-driven secrecy isolates players, stripping away the social tension that should define hidden role games.
The game’s components are undoubtedly high quality. From the chests used for secret trades to the intricate art on the building cards, there’s clear attention to detail. However, the sterile medieval theme doesn’t evoke the sense of intrigue or danger promised by the game’s concept. The Inquisition mechanics, meant to add tension, feel more like a mechanical afterthought than an engaging narrative element.
Ultimately, while the production quality is commendable, the theme lacks cohesion, leaving players disconnected from the game’s supposed theme.
Gameplay: Complexity Without Coherence
The gameplay of Deal with the Devil is divided into phases: Production, Cards, Deals, Actions, Interest, and Reputation, with additional phases like Witch Hunts and Inquisitions in later rounds. On paper, the structure sounds solid, but in execution, it’s a bloated mess. Here’s why:
Role-Based Trading: Players make secret offers using the app to facilitate trades. While innovative, the system isolates players, removing the social deduction element central to hidden role games.
Resource Management: Building structures and managing resources feels disconnected from the game’s core theme. The euro mechanics and role-based play clash instead of complementing each other.
Debt and Reputation: Managing loans and reputation should add strategic depth, but the cumbersome rules and lack of player agency turn these into chores rather than engaging challenges.
Instead of feeling like a cohesive experience, Deal with the Devil overwhelms players with rules and phases that fail to come together in a meaningful way.
From Ambitious to Agonizing
Deal with the Devil promises a unique mix of mechanics, but the player experience is anything but enjoyable. The reliance on the app creates a barrier to interaction, making trades feel impersonal and gameplay disjointed. Players are left staring at their screens rather than engaging with each other.
The pacing is a significant issue. Each phase drags on, with players often waiting for the app to process trades or for others to parse the convoluted rules. The lack of meaningful decisions compounds the frustration—many actions feel predetermined by the game’s systems rather than driven by player choices.
Replayability is almost non-existent. Once the novelty of the roles wears off, the game’s flaws become even more apparent. The mechanical bloat and lack of thematic engagement make it unlikely that players will return for a second session.
Final Reflections: A Devil You Shouldn’t Bargain With
Deal with the Devil is a case study in overambition. Its attempt to merge euro mechanics with hidden roles and app-driven gameplay results in a game that is more frustrating than fun. Despite its high production values, it’s a poorly executed experiment that fails to deliver on its intriguing premise.
Who is this game for? Only the most curious of players looking to experience its novel but flawed mechanics. Otherwise, avoid it at all costs.
Final Rating: 2.0 out of 10
The Bottom Line: Deal with the Devil offers high production value but stumbles with clunky gameplay and disjointed mechanics. Not recommended.
Check our Rating Scale here.
Want to check more? Take a look at the videos/reviews below:
- The Dice Tower Review
- Read the rulebook here.
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