Hielenlikkers (NL) - Card game

Hielenlikkers

Hielenlikkers is a fast, highly interactive court-intrigue card game in which six noble families vie for the queen’s favor. Each turn you play three cards: one into your own domain, one into an opponent’s, and one to the queen’s banquet table, shifting which families will be praised and which will fall from grace by the end of the game. With a deluxe playmat, 90 courtier cards and secret missions, Hielenlikkers (known internationally as Courtisans) offers tactical “take-that” gameplay for 2–5 players in about 20–25 minutes.

Key Features:

• Tactical take-that family card game: Simple rules but a strong focus on messing with each other’s plans, making it great for interactive, table-talk-heavy groups.

• Three cards, three arenas of influence: Every turn you strengthen your tableau, sabotage someone else’s, and manipulate the queen’s table, creating constant tension and clever trade-offs.

• Shifting family values: Families score positive, negative or zero points depending on their status at the banquet, so the same cards can become assets or liabilities over time.

• Hidden mission objectives: Secret mission cards provide personal goals and bonus points, nudging you toward specific families or conditions without revealing your full strategy.

• Deluxe playmat and rich artwork: The included fabric playmat and detailed courtier illustrations give the game a luxurious table presence that matches its royal theme.

• Quick, accessible gameplay: Designed for 2–5 players aged roughly 8 and up, with plays around 20–25 minutes, making it ideal as a lively filler or family game.

• Based on Courtisans: Hielenlikkers is the Dutch edition of Courtisans, bringing this interactive set-collection and take-that experience to a wider audience.

Why Choose Hielenlikkers?

Choose Hielenlikkers if you want a compact card game where every play affects multiple parts of the table and no one can sit back passively. The three-card turn structure means you’re constantly weighing how much to invest in your own points versus how much trouble to cause for others or at the queen’s table. Swingy scoring, changing family status and hidden missions keep everyone guessing right up to the final tally. Combined with its striking production and brisk playtime, Hielenlikkers is an excellent choice for groups that enjoy intrigue, negotiation and a healthy dose of playful meanness.