Card
Play Love Letter online
Bluff, deduce, and outplay rivals with just one card in hand. Quick and ruthless.
2–4 players, about 10 minutes. Play Love Letter with friends using a room code, or solo against Nell. Free, no sign-up, works on your phone.
How to play Love Letter
Players
2-4
Time
~10 min/round
Goal
Win rounds
Objective
Win rounds by either being the last player standing, or by holding the highest-value card when the deck runs out. Win enough rounds to win the game: 7 rounds with 2 players, 5 with 3 players, or 4 with 4 players.
Setup
The deck has only 16 cards. At the start of each round, one card is removed face-down (nobody knows what it is) and each player is dealt one card.
Your Turn
1
Draw one card from the deck (you now have 2 cards).
2
Play one of your two cards face-up and apply its effect. You always keep exactly one card in your hand.
The Cards
Card
Value
Effect
Guard
1 (x5)
Guess a player's card (not Guard). If correct, they're out.
Priest
2 (x2)
Look at another player's card.
Baron
3 (x2)
Compare cards. Lower card is out.
Handmaid
4 (x2)
Protected until your next turn.
Prince
5 (x2)
A player discards and draws new (yourself, if everyone else is protected).
King
6 (x1)
Trade hands with another player.
Countess
7 (x1)
Must play if you have King/Prince.
Princess
8 (x1)
If played or discarded, you're out.
Winning a Round
A round ends when either:
1
Only one player remains (everyone else was knocked out) — that player wins.
2
The deck runs out — the remaining player holding the highest-value card wins. Ties go to the player who played the highest total card values during the round.
Key Rules
1
Countess rule: If you hold the Countess (7) with the King (6) or Prince (5), you must play the Countess. No choice.
2
Handmaid protection: If all other players are protected by Handmaids and you play a card that requires a target, the effect is wasted.
3
Princess trap: If someone uses a Prince on you and you're holding the Princess, you must discard her — and you're out.
Strategy Tips
💡
Track which cards have been played — with only 16 cards, knowing what's left in the deck is incredibly powerful. The Handmaid is quietly one of the best cards — use it to survive until you know more. Holding the Princess is dangerous because a Prince can knock you out.