Soothsayers
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Design & Art
Lingua
🛡️ Bustine consigliate 4 ▾
⚠️ Avvertenze
Pairs well with
FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
A power seized, a combo unleashed, a destiny snatched from your rival's hands at the last second.
What it's about
A race for power among rival mystics, card by card
You are a powerful soothsayer, but your rivals are just as powerful. In Soothsayers, it's not enough to capture the tarot cards — you must do it before others, build an increasingly powerful combo engine, and defend the Destiny Tokens while opponents try to snatch them from you.
The heart of the game is elegant: each turn you choose one of four actions — gain coins, draw cards, level up, or capture a tarot card. But if your level is higher, rivals must pay you to follow. This creates constant economic tension: is it better to act alone or let them follow?
Designed by Jeff Grisenthwaite and illustrated with the iconic cards of Pamela Colman Smith (the original Rider-Waite deck), Soothsayers is published by Play to Z. A compact card game that hides surprising tactical depth.
From the table experience
The true magic isn't in the captured tarot — it's in the combo waiting for you next turn, the one no one at the table has seen coming yet.
The secret of Soothsayers in one line
In thirty minutes you can be the dominant mystic. In thirty-one, you might find the Destiny Tokens in someone else's hand. This is the pace of Soothsayers.
From the game experience
Soothsayers
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rulebook, international reviews, and game sessionsYour arsenal
What you control in each game
Tarot cards to capture
The Empress, the Moon, Death. Each captured card unlocks a unique ability and powers up your combo engine.
The crystal ball
Your action marker. You place it on one of the four actions each turn — and rivals can follow you, but at a cost.
Upgradable levels
The higher you level up, the more powerful your actions become — and the more expensive it is for others to copy you. Progression is at the heart of the game.
Destiny Tokens
The ultimate goal. They constantly change hands — collecting them all before others is the only way to win.
In a few hours, you'll know if you truly are the most powerful among soothsayers — or if someone read the future better than you.
🎲Components7 types · 235 total pieces
🃏Recommended Sleeves2 sizes · 149 total cards
📖RulebookEnglish · Official PDF
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Soothsayers take their positions
Cards are dealt, crystal balls are ready. Everyone evaluates the card market on the table, plans their first action, already knows who they want to hinder first. The game hasn't even started yet, and they're already studying each other.
The first capture changes everything
Someone captures the first tarot card — the Moon, perhaps, or the Empress. The ability activates and changes the dynamic of the turn. Others realize that waiting is not an option. The pace quickens.
The most advanced player becomes the target
Whoever has gained the most levels dominates — their actions cost others, their tarot cards are frightening. But this puts them in everyone's crosshairs. A silent alliance forms. No one says it, but it's clear: everyone attacks the leader.
The combo no one saw coming
There's always a moment in every game of Soothsayers. A player chains three tarot abilities in a single turn, collects all the Destiny Tokens, and leaves others speechless. That sequence is still talked about while putting everything back in the box.
Destiny has a master
Someone claims the last Destiny Token. The game ends. Someone wins, but everyone is still talking about that combo in round four. Everything is put back in the box, already wondering which tarot card to take first next time.
How to play
The flow of each round
Four quick actions that hide tactical depth. You learn in fifteen minutes, you master it game after game.
Choose one of the four available actions: gain coins equal to your income level, draw cards equal to your draw level, ascend a level, or capture a tarot card.
Each opponent can copy your action — but if your level in that action is higher than theirs, they must pay you the difference in coins. The more advanced you are, the more you earn passively.
Previously captured tarot cards can activate in response to actions — yours or others'. Combos are born here: one ability triggers another, then another.
Some abilities allow you to gain or steal Destiny Tokens. Whoever controls all of them at the end of a turn wins the game. But tokens often change hands — no victory is secure.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Advanced players earn even while waiting
Every time a rival copies an action in which you have a higher level, they pay you. Leveling up is not just power — it's passive income. The engine is self-financing.
Every tarot card is a unique power
The Empress does something different from Death, and still different from the Moon. There are no useless tarot cards — there are tarot cards to be used at the right moment.
Combos build up over time
You don't capture a tarot card and use it immediately. You combine it with acquired levels, with cards in hand, with the right moment. The satisfaction of a successful combo is immense.
Destiny Tokens create final tension
The victory condition is not an accumulated score — it's the simultaneous control of all tokens. You can win in one turn. You can lose in one turn. No one breathes.
Two tarot decks for infinite variability
The box includes a second set of tarot cards with alternative abilities. Individual cards or the entire deck can be replaced. No game will be the same as the last.
Original Rider-Waite illustrations
The cards are illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, the artist of the 1909 Rider-Waite tarot deck. One of history's most iconic graphic works, serving the game.
How it ends
Only one way to win, a thousand to lose it
Victory is clear and immediate — but achieving it requires timing, combos, and a bit of luck at the decisive moment.
Victory
- Control all available Destiny Tokens at the end of your turn
- In 2 players, all 5 tokens are needed; with more players, the number varies
- Just a few turns of effective combos are enough to gather the necessary tokens
How to lose
- Rivals snatch your tokens before the turn ends — it happens often
- You invested everything in levels but didn't capture enough tarot cards
- You waited too long — in Soothsayers, whoever waits gives a huge advantage
Soothsayers is one of the most original competitive card games in recent years. Immediately accessible, surprisingly deep after the first game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Soothsayers FAQ
Is it worth it compared to other 30-60 minute engine builders?
Yes, if you're looking for high direct interaction. Many engine builders let you build in peace — in Soothsayers, every action you take can be copied by others, and every level you gain has immediate economic repercussions on the entire table. Engine building never happens in a vacuum.
How much does luck weigh compared to strategy?
Card drafting introduces variability, but the choices you make with those cards matter much more. Those who level up efficiently and capture the right tarot cards at the right moments win systematically. It's not a game of luck — but those who choose their tarot cards poorly will feel it.
Does it work well with two players?
Yes, although the experience is more a duel and tactical compared to 4-5 player games. With more players, chaos and interaction increase, temporary alliances emerge spontaneously, and Destiny Tokens change hands much more often. With 4 players, the experience is at its most energetic.
Is it suitable for those who don't play often?
Fairly so. The four actions are simple to understand and the first game flows smoothly. Combos and tarot synergies are discovered over time — those with limited gaming experience won't be lost, but it will take a few games to fully utilize the game.
Are there expansions or additional content?
The base box already includes two interchangeable tarot decks, guaranteeing significant variability from the start. No expansions have been announced at the moment. The base game is designed as a complete experience.
Is it available in Italian?
This is the English edition. The text on the cards is in English — some tarot abilities require reading English. The rulebook is in English, but the PDF can be downloaded for free. For those with a good knowledge of the language, it is not an obstacle.
Soothsayers is a competitive card game with engine building mechanics and majority control for 2–5 players (ages 12+, duration 30–60 min). Designed by Jeff Grisenthwaite, illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith (Rider-Waite 1909), published by Play to Z in 2026. Each player controls a mystic who captures tarot cards — Empress, Moon, Death, and others — to build ability combos and conquer Destiny Tokens. Main mechanics: action with level-dependent paid follow, engine building, card draft. Two alternative tarot decks included for high replayability. English edition. Available on FroGames.it.
Soothsayers
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!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.