Coyote is a Bluffing and Deduction game.
Title: Coyote
Year Published: 2003
Designer: Spartaco Albertarelli
Publisher: Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
Players: 3-6
Game Time: ~30 mins
Set-up Time: <1 min
Ages: 10+
Theme: Old West
Mechanic: Bluffing, Deduction
How to win: Survive!
Game Description
Coyote is a simple bluffing game in a western setting.
Coyote Set Up
Give each player a headband and shuffle the deck of cards, done!
Pick a start player.
Coyote Game Play
Each player takes a card and without looking at it and puts it in their headband facing outwards. Everyone now has a chance to look at the cards the other players have on their head.
The first player will pick a number and then in clockwise order, players either increase that number or call the player out.
Should they decide to call the player out everyone puts their cards on the table. If the last number called is OVER the total, that player gets a Coyote. If it’s equal to or under, the player that called them out gets one instead.
A new round starts with the last player to act (Either call a player out or guess a number, whoever didn’t get the Coyote.)
If a player gets 3 Coyotes, they are out of the game.
The numbers go from 1-20, but there are 5 special cards that mess things up a bit. If one or more is revealed they are resolved in the following order. (It can matter)
Question Mark
Turn over Top Card, the Question Mark is now that card.
Max 0
The Highest Value card is now a 0.
Max –
The Highest Value card in play is now Negative.
x2
Doubles the total of all the cards in play.
Zero
Not as special this one it’s just a 0. However, when the card is revealed you reshuffle the deck of Feathers.
Game End
When only one player remains, they are the winner.
Round-Up
If you’re struggling to see if people are throwing you off with their number, check out my tips for bluffing games.
What a fun game.
It’s often compared to Perudo and rightly so, but in Perudo you only have information on your dice, no one else’s. In Coyote, you know everything BUT your card which makes it more interesting in my opinion.
When you call someone out confidently, lift the card out your band and slap it smugly down on the table only to release it’s the ‘x2’ card and everyone was giving a low number to trick you. Argh!
That kind of bluffing is there. You can work out what the person to your left can see (apart from your own card obviously) and try and trick them into calling you out. Or manoeuvre the game to eliminate the person after them. (We do, it’s great :))
The version I have also came with these tokens for an advanced game that gives you additional actions instead of taking an action on your turn.
Super fun and super simple!
Coyote Rating
VERY fun, always hilarious.
I give it 8/10
Coyote First Impressions June 2015
Most of the cards are 1-20 in various amounts, but there are special cards such as double the total and minus cards. Sucks if you get one! but that’s most of the fun really…
It is fun though and the headband/feathers add to the silliness. Shame the box is one of those really crappy cubes.
Jesta ThaRogue