Designer: Andrea La Rosa
Publisher: Llamascape Games
Artist: Andrea La Rosa
2-6 players  |  20 min  |  ages 8+  |  MSRP $41  |  BGG Entry
Time to teach & learn: 5-10 minutes

Game Synopsis

A minor nobleman from La Mancha, having read too many medieval romances, loses his mind and dubs himself Don Quixote, a knight errant bound to revive chivalry and serve the crown. He sets off with his horse Rocinante and his loyal companion Sancho Panza to right wrongs in the world. Problem is, Don Quixote doesnt see the world as we do. He sees giants where we see windmills. Inns become castles and flocks of sheep armies. This is a story of the tension between imagination and reality, of loyalty, love and the nature of hope. It’s also one of the first novels ever written. 

In the game, players guide Don Quixote through a series of adventures over two chapters, hoping to shape his character and the outcome of the story to match your goals. Can you influence the votes each round to create one of literature’s most iconic heroes?

Why We Love Don Quixote: The Ingenious Hidalgo

This game operates on two parallel levels - one literary and one playful but never overtly educational. It pays honor and homage to the original text by including important plot points and pivotal moments in Don Quixote’s character with excerpts from the book on each of the adventure cards. During a turn, a player chooses one of these adventures and offers it to all players for a vote. The adventure itself has votes that skew the outcome in a way that aligns with the novel, moving Don Quixotes love, glory, obsession or delusion along different scoring tracks. Each player has a chance to influence this vote with a card from their hand. The motive behind each vote is to manipulate each of Quixote’s character traits to align with a secret scoring goal card. As players read out the adventures, card by card, they gain a deconstructed sense of the story. Our version of one of literature's greatest tales can play out differently because of our collective choices. The items you gain from card play echo elements from the novel as welll  - from Sancho’s donkey to a vial of poison. They will also influence the direction of the game.

In the end, the story of the game is not authored by Cervantes but by the players. It is a far cry from reading the novel but these vignettes capture the essence of the narrative while also giving each person a chance to play with the story itself. Playing Don Quixote for twenty minutes isnt meant to replace the novel. It’s a love letter to it. And perhaps a path for players to open the book to page one and dive in. 

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Congratulations to designer Andrea La Rosa!

More information on Don Quixote at: Llamascape Games

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