Victorian Greeting Card Showdown
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- Arrives
- January 29, 2027
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The FroGames card
Present your Christmas card. It features a dead cat. The Editor-in-Chief raises an eyebrow, the others burst out laughing, and someone votes. And you discover that in Victorian England, the absurd sold.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Become the star of the Sowersby Greeting Card Company
Victorian Greeting Card Showdown is a party game by Amy and Dusty Droz, the duo behind Dux Somnium Games. The setting is Victorian England, when greeting cards were bizarre, often unsettling, and completely unrelated to the holidays they celebrated.
Each player creates cards for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, presents them to the Editor-in-Chief, and competes against the other designers. The voting system decides who will become the company's next star. The goal is not consistency or good taste: it is to convince the table that your card deserves to be printed.
What they say abroad
"Does the card unsettle small children?"
— Dux Somnium Games
Amy and Dusty Droz bring their narrative touch to an accessible and fun format for large groups.
— FroGames
Victorian Greeting Card Showdown
FrogScore · FroGames editorial review · first read: based on the rules and official presentation, updated with the first gamesWhat you find in the box
Game elements
Holiday Cards
Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving: each holiday has its own cards. Choose the one to celebrate, then create the most convincing (or absurd) card.
The Editor-in-Chief
A different player each turn judges the presented cards. Their vote counts, but it is not the only one: convince the others and you win.
Voting system
The heart of the game. Each player votes for the best card, the Editor-in-Chief has the final say. Simple, immediate, social.
Design Cards
Visual elements, texts, bizarre historical references. Combine them to create the card that will make the table laugh (or shudder).
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each turn follows a fixed structure: choose, build, present, vote.
Each player draws design cards and chooses which ones to use to build the card. The Editor-in-Chief for that turn is designated.
Combine the chosen cards to create a greeting card. It doesn't matter if it makes sense: what matters is that it convinces the table.
Show the card and explain why it works. You can be serious, ironic, absurd. The Editor-in-Chief listens, the other players comment.
Each player votes for the best card (except their own). The Editor-in-Chief has the final say. Points are awarded, and it starts again.
⏱️Your first gameThe play-by-play, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Discover the cards
You draw the first holiday and design cards. You read absurd combinations, laugh even before starting. The Editor-in-Chief is chosen: someone takes the role seriously, someone else does not.
Build the card
Choose which elements to combine for your card. A cat, a bell, out-of-place text. Someone is already laughing at your cards. Others keep a poker face.
Present to the table
Show your card. Describe why it works, why Sowersby should print it. The Editor-in-Chief raises an eyebrow, the others comment. The tension rises.
Voting
Each player votes for the best card (except their own). The Editor-in-Chief has the final say. Someone negotiates votes, someone laughs, someone protests.
End of game
The player with the most points wins. Someone dominated the whole time, someone else won on the last vote. Everyone has a story to tell.
🐸Good to knowThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know
Three things to know
It works with the right group
If the table doesn't get into the mood of Victorian absurdity, the game loses its bite. You need a group that plays the game, not just to win.
The duration varies greatly
From 20 to 90 minutes according to BGG. With 10 players, each turn drags on: presentations, votes, discussions. If you're looking for a fast pace, play with fewer people.
Voting is subjective
There are no objective criteria. The one who convinces, who makes people laugh, who negotiates better wins. If you're looking for mathematical balance, you won't find it here.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win
The player with the most points at the end of the game becomes the star of Sowersby.
Victory
- You accumulate points by winning voting turns
- The Editor-in-Chief awards you bonus points
- At the end of the game, the one with the most points wins
How not to win
- Your cards don't convince the table
- Other players negotiate votes better than you
- The Editor-in-Chief doesn't appreciate your choices
A party game that celebrates Victorian absurdity and social voting. Perfect for large groups and low-key evenings.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before you add to cart▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ on Victorian Greeting Card Showdown
How many players are needed to play well?
3 to 10 players. The game scales well, but with 5-8 people it finds its best pace: enough voices for voting, fast enough not to drag on too much.
How long does a game really last?
BGG indicates 20-90 minutes. With 3-4 players it can be over in half an hour. With 8-10 players and a table that discusses every card, it can take up to 90 minutes. It depends on the group.
Is it suitable for children?
The recommended age is 8+ years. Children can play if they understand the irony and absurdity of the Victorian era. If they are looking for clear rules and balanced competition, they might get frustrated.
Is it a cooperative or competitive game?
Competitive. Each player competes to convince the table that their card is the best. Voting is social, so you negotiate, laugh, and discuss.
Do you need to know Victorian history?
No. The game uses the Victorian context as a pretext for absurdity, not as a test of historical knowledge. The cards provide the elements, you combine them however you want.
What mechanics does Victorian Greeting Card Showdown use?
The game uses voting as its main mechanic. Each turn players build cards, present them, and vote for the best. The Editor-in-Chief has the final say.
Replayability: how many games can it handle?
Hard to say for sure (the game has 0 ratings on BGG). Replayability depends on the variety of the cards and the freshness of the group. If the table changes often, it lasts longer.
Does it work with experienced players?
It depends on expectations. If they are looking for strategic depth, they will be disappointed. If they accept a light and social party game, it can entertain them too.
Is it available in Italian? Do you need to know English?
The edition for sale is in English. Basic knowledge of the language is needed to read the cards and describe the cards to the table. It is not a language-free game.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they have done.
Victorian Greeting Card Showdown is a party game for 3-10 players, lasting 20-90 minutes, recommended for ages 8+. Designed by Amy and Dusty Droz for Dux Somnium Games, the game brings Victorian absurdity to the table: players create bizarre greeting cards for holidays like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, present them to the Editor-in-Chief, and compete for the table's vote. The main mechanic is voting: convince those who know how to read the room, make people laugh, and negotiate better. Ideal for large groups and low-key evenings. Available on FroGames.it.
Victorian Greeting Card Showdown
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
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