Introduction to Citadels: A Complete Guide to the Classic Card Game
Everything you need to know about Citadels — the beloved card strategy game by Bruno Faidutti. Learn how to play, explore characters and districts, and discover tips for beginners.
Cybadels Team
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What Is Citadels?
Citadels is a card-based strategy board game designed by Bruno Faidutti and first published in 2000 by Hans im Gluck. In this game for 2 to 8 players, you secretly select character roles each round, collect gold and district cards, and build a city to earn the highest score. A typical game lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
What makes Citadels stand apart from other strategy games is the hidden role selection. Every round, each player secretly chooses a character with a unique ability — but so does everyone else. The tension of guessing who picked what, bluffing your opponents, and timing your moves is what keeps Citadels endlessly replayable after more than two decades.
Since its release, Citadels has been translated into dozens of languages and nominated for multiple awards, including a 2000 Spiel des Jahres recommendation — one of the most prestigious honors in the board gaming world.
A Brief History
French game designer Bruno Faidutti created Citadels (originally titled Citadelles) and published it through Hans im Gluck in 2000. The game quickly gained international recognition and was later published in English by Fantasy Flight Games.
In 2004, The Dark City expansion introduced additional characters and districts, expanding the strategic possibilities. Building on years of community feedback, Fantasy Flight Games released the 2016 Citadels Edition — the definitive version of the game. This expanded edition consolidated the base game and expansions into one package: 27 characters (9 ranks with 3 variants each) and 84 district cards (54 basic plus 30 unique purple districts). It also introduced refined rules for different player counts, from intimate 2-player duels to epic 8-player battles.
The 2016 edition is now the standard version of Citadels and the one most players use today.
How Citadels Works
A game of Citadels flows through repeating rounds, each consisting of a character draft followed by player turns. Here is how a typical round plays out.
The Character Draft
At the start of each round, players take turns selecting one character card from a shared pool. The player holding the crown (a leadership token) picks first, and selection continues clockwise. Some character cards are discarded face-up or face-down before the draft begins — this varies by player count and adds uncertainty about which characters are available.
The draft is the strategic heart of Citadels. Which character you choose depends on your game plan, what you think opponents will pick, and what information the discarded cards reveal.
Player Turns
After the draft, characters are called in rank order from 1 through 8 (or 9). When your character's number is called, you reveal your role and take your turn:
- Collect income — Choose one: take 2 gold coins, OR draw 2 district cards from the deck and keep 1.
- Build a district — Optionally pay gold equal to a district card's cost to add it to your city.
- Use your character's ability — Each character has a unique power that can be used at specific moments during your turn.
Ending the Game
The game enters its final round when any player builds their 7th district (or 8th in smaller games). All players finish the current round, then scores are calculated.
Scoring
Your final score is the total gold cost of all districts in your city, plus bonuses:
- Color bonus — If your city contains all 5 district colors, you earn bonus points.
- Completion bonus — The first player to reach the district limit earns extra points.
- Special abilities — Certain purple districts grant additional scoring bonuses.
The player with the highest total score wins.
The Characters
Citadels features 9 character ranks, each with a distinct role. In the 2016 edition, each rank has 3 character variants — but only one variant per rank is used in any given game, creating a different experience every session.
| Rank | Classic Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assassin | Eliminate another character — they lose their entire turn |
| 2 | Thief | Steal all gold from another character |
| 3 | Magician | Swap your hand of cards with an opponent or the deck |
| 4 | King | Gain the crown and collect income from noble (yellow) districts |
| 5 | Bishop | Gain protection from destruction and collect from religious (blue) districts |
| 6 | Merchant | Earn extra gold and collect from trade (green) districts |
| 7 | Architect | Draw extra cards and build multiple districts in one turn |
| 8 | Warlord | Destroy an opponent's district and collect from military (red) districts |
| 9 | Queen | Earn bonus gold based on your position relative to the King |
The brilliance of this system is that characters are not assigned permanently. Every round presents a fresh draft, so you might be the Assassin one round and the Merchant the next. This keeps every player engaged and makes long-term planning a fascinating challenge.
With 27 total character variants across 9 ranks, no two games of Citadels play exactly the same.
The Districts
Districts are the buildings you construct to form your city. Each district card has a gold cost (which also serves as its base victory point value) and belongs to one of five types:
| Type | Color | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Noble | Yellow | Palace, Castle, Manor |
| Religious | Blue | Temple, Cathedral, Monastery |
| Trade | Green | Tavern, Market, Trading Post |
| Military | Red | Watchtower, Fortress, Battlefield |
| Unique | Purple | Special buildings with unique abilities |
Basic districts (yellow, blue, green, red) are straightforward — pay the cost, earn the points. The real strategic depth comes from purple Unique districts. These special buildings grant powerful abilities: extra income, protection from attacks, scoring bonuses, or rule-bending effects. They cost more to build, but their abilities often justify the investment.
In the 2016 edition, there are 30 unique purple districts. Each game randomly selects 14 of them, so the available special buildings change from game to game.
Strategy Tips for Beginners
Balance Income and Building
The most common beginner mistake is hoarding gold without building, or rushing to build cheap districts without accumulating enough resources. Aim for a steady rhythm — collect income when your hand is weak, build when you have strong options.
Read the Draft
Pay close attention to which characters are discarded face-up and which ones your opponents might have taken. If the Assassin is not in the discard pile and you're leading the game, you might be the target. The draft tells a story — learn to read it.
Don't Ignore Purple Districts
Unique purple districts are expensive, but their special abilities can swing a game. A well-timed purple district is often worth more than two cheap basic buildings.
Stay Flexible
Don't lock yourself into one strategy. The character draft changes every round, and so should your approach. The best Citadels players adapt to the flow of the game rather than forcing a rigid plan.
Citadels Editions and Expansions
Citadels (2000) — The Original
The game that started it all. Features 8 characters and approximately 65 district cards. Simple, elegant, and still enjoyable today.
Citadels: The Dark City (2004)
The first major expansion, adding new characters and districts. Introduced more strategic variety and player interaction.
Citadels (2016 Edition) — The Definitive Version
The ultimate version of Citadels, combining the base game and all expansions into one box. With 27 characters, 84 district cards, and carefully refined rules for every player count from 2 to 8, this edition is the gold standard. If you are new to Citadels, this is the version to get — and it is the version that Cybadels implements online.
Playing Citadels Online
Citadels has always been a social game — but getting 2 to 8 friends around a table is not always possible. While the physical card game remains fantastic, the demand for a quality online experience has grown over the years.
That is exactly why Cybadels exists. Cybadels is a free, browser-based multiplayer implementation of the full 2016 Citadels expanded edition. No downloads, no installs, no paywalls — just open your browser and play.
What Cybadels offers:
- 2-8 player online multiplayer with real-time gameplay
- Full 2016 expanded rules including all 27 characters and 84 districts
- Player-count-specific draft rules that match the official game
- A cyberpunk-inspired aesthetic reimagining the classic medieval setting
- Completely free — no pay-to-win, no hidden costs
Whether you are a Citadels veteran looking for a quick online game or a curious newcomer wanting to try the game for the first time, Cybadels makes it easy to jump in and start playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Citadels?
Citadels supports 2 to 8 players. The game includes special draft rules that adjust for different player counts, so the experience scales well whether you are playing a tense 2-player duel or a chaotic 8-player battle.
How long does a game of Citadels take?
A typical game takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of players and their familiarity with the game. 2-3 player games tend to be quicker, while 7-8 player games can run longer.
Is Citadels similar to Catan?
Both are popular strategy board games, but they play very differently. Catan focuses on resource trading, dice rolling, and building settlements on a shared hex board. Citadels is a card game centered on secret role selection, bluffing, and city building. If you enjoy the strategic depth of Catan but want something with more direct player interaction and psychological gameplay, Citadels is an excellent choice.
Can I play Citadels online for free?
Yes! Cybadels is a free browser-based version that implements the complete 2016 expanded edition rules. You can play with 2-8 players online — no download or payment required.
