Thiefdom

november 15, 2025

Thiefdom

On request of the publisher, this review is written in English. Our Dutch readers can use the translate button on our blog.

In Thiefdom, you lead a gang of thieves sneaking through the medieval town of Bacharach over six tense nights. Each player controls three thieves moving through the city while guards, nobles, and even carriages patrol the streets. Your goal? Steal treasures, complete missions, and stash as much loot as possible in your hideout to earn prestige and become the most notorious thief in town.

Every player starts with three thief miniatures, a personal hideout, four inventory slots, and a set of equipment chosen through a draft. Think smoke bombs, a lockpick, or crossbows, each item gives you a clever edge when it’s time to act.

The board shows the detailed city of Bacharach, filled with villas, markets, taverns, a smuggler’s den, and a dungeon. As night falls, lanterns light the streets, making movement and line of sight crucial. Staying hidden is key, because once a guard spots you, things can go downhill fast.

A game runs over six rounds, called nights, and each night has three phases. In the planning phase, players secretly choose what their thieves will do. Then, in the action phase, everyone takes turns carrying out their plans. Each turn, you have three action points, or four if you use stamina. You can move, steal, trade, smuggle, or rest. Guards follow strict patrol routes and will arrest anyone caught in their line of sight. If you get caught, you lose your loot and need time to get back into action.

Every location has its purpose. The market lets you sell your stolen goods, the tavern is a place to find or to be correct buy a friend, villas hold valuable treasures, and the smuggler helps you move your loot out of town. Good planning and timing make all the difference between a perfect heist and an embarrassing capture.

After six nights, the game ends, and the player with the highest prestige wins. Optional variants add extra twists, but the core remains the same: plan smart, stay hidden, and strike when the moment is right.

Thiefdom is a tense, strategic cat-and-mouse game that rewards clever thinking and daring moves. Every night feels different, and watching your perfect plan crumble because of one unexpected guard is both painful and hilarious. It’s a fantastic choice for players who love planning, risk, and that sweet rush of pulling off the perfect heist.