Election: A Game of Secret States

2 to 4 players vie to become President of the United States by earning the most electoral votes in the election. Players will choose a party at the start of the game: Defense, Economy, Government, or Society. Each party has unique special abilities. As a candidate, you will strive to earn states, especially high-value ones, and keep those states safely in your possession.

Players take turns drawing Campaign Cards to earn resources: either Cash or Support. At the same time, they will build piles of four Campaign Cards to earn State Cards. Also in the draw pile are Event Cards and Staff Boost Cards. Event Cards will have either positive or negative effects. Staff Boost cards provide a powerful bonus that lasts until removed by an opponent.

As players earn State Cards they will have to decide which ones to reveal by “securing” and which ones to keep secret. Players will form their strategy based on their state values, party abilities, and Staff Boost cards in play. They can spend resources to secure states, steal states from other players, and remove Staff Boost Cards. Some strategies might include, but are not limited to: bluffing, hoarding states, going after opponents, or timely use of party abilities.

Any player who has secured 10 states has the power to end the game, but must consider secured and secret (unsecured) states in their calculations. Once the election is held, all electoral votes (secured and unsecured) are tallied. Highest total wins.

—description from designer