In this review we talk about Death Enters the Saloon, a western filler roleplaying game that talks about guilt, regrets and fear of Death.

The game was created and published by Daniele di Rubbo, Greta Bellagamba and Benedetta Falcone, whom we thank for sending us the physical copy for the review. We invite you to follow them on the official website and Instagram page of Geecko on the Wall.

If you are interested, you can buy the product on the author’s itch.io page, the digital version is on sale for 5 euros. On the other hand, if you want the physical version, the cost is 17 euros abd can be found on the official page.

Review of Structure and Art of Death Enters the Saloon

Death Enters the Saloon is an elegant manual of about a hundred pages. Please note that the manual is divided in half and contains both the English and Italian versions of the game.

The writing is simple and the text flows very well in reading, also thanks to the careful layout, which guarantees a clearly organized text and highlights the fundamental information. A plus point is the large number of examples to better understand the game mechanics.

From an artistic point of view, the manual presents few but all impactful and truly exceptional images, which allow you to fully immerse yourself in the proposed western atmosphere. Also the other elements of the graphic design of the manual are extremely polished and minimal, such as a well readable and easily recognizable font.

In addition, a custom X-Card is included in the physical manual, to be used during the session as a safety tool.

The Mechanics of Death Enters the Saloon

Death Enters the Saloon mechanics focus on simplicity and immediacy.

Rules are learned in a few minutes and require only a deck of poker cards. Each card introduces narrative cues that guide the conversation and outline the relationships between the characters, keeping the pace high.

The Death enters the Saloon structure is as simple as it is effective. At the beginning of the game you deal players the cards, from ace to ten, excluding jokers and figures. Once the cards are received, each one removes all pairs from their hand. When the last pair is discarded, whoever possesses more cards becomes the Doomed, the target on which Death will rest their gaze, and will have to add the black joker previously set aside to their hand.

The Game Stream

But the real heart of the game lies in its gameplay, as linear as it is loaded with tension. Starting with the Doomed, players alternate clockwise by randomly drawing a card from their hand and showing it to everyone. From here there are three possible outcomes:

• The card forms a pair: the player pairs it with the one in their hand, discards both and obtains the right to ask the Doomed an accusatory question, aimed at putting them in difficulty or pointing the finger at them.
• The card does not match: the player feels pity for the Doomed and asks them a question that can exonerate them or bring out their human side.
• The card is the black joker: the tide is turned. Whoever has drawn the black joker becomes the new Doomed, and the cycle starts again, increasing the tension around the table.

After each pairing, the cards are discarded, marking the inexorable advance towards the end. This simple but extremely evocative system balances chance and storytelling, creating a dramatic rhythm in which each card drawn can change the fate of the characters and the atmosphere of the entire scene.

Grand Finale

The final stage of Death Enters the Saloon represents the culmination of the tension built up during the match. The game can end in three distinct ways, each with a different tone and meaning:

• The black joker makes a complete turn of the table: if the cursed card passes from hand to hand without ever stopping, all the characters are safe. Death leaves the saloon.
• The Doomed remains with only the black joker in hand: in this case the fate is marked. Death claims them and drags them away forever, leaving others only silence and remembrance.
• Only two players remain: for this last case the gameplay remains unchanged but the challenge becomes tight because it represents a gun duel. The Doomed has their two cards covered in front of them, while the other player “shoots” by choosing one. If the selected card matches the one in the shooter’s hand, the shot is scored: the Doomed falls, pronounces one last monologue and Death takes it with them. If instead the chosen card is the black joker, the shot fails and the roles are reversed; and, in case both draws miss, neither character will die and the game ends instantly.

If players wish, there is an option in the manual to continue playing even after the conclusion. This is an extra but could be interesting for groups who are passionate about the newly created story and want to explore it in depth. In this case, just replace the dead character with another and follow the same flow of play.

Conclusion of the Death Enters the Saloon Review

In conclusion, it can be said that Death Enters the Saloon is an excellent product to fill the evenings with a very fast, simple and above all immediate game to be played at the table. The rules are really effective and are able to fully return the feeling of a western film or a confrontation in which one’s action could be the last. In addition, the tables present allow you to define the characters and their motivations so as to create an engaging narrative at the table.

I recommend Death Enters the Saloon to all western fans looking for something simple for evenings among friends.

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