You’re on the simplified version of “The Comedy of Death”.

The game box contents are minimized, but the rules are the same, with an additional phase to find your accomplice without using bands during the card distribution.

This version accommodates up to 18 players and includes 9 characters instead of 20. The box doesn’t contain a game booklet, but a QR code leads you to this page.

To play, read the rules carefully below.

You can play with 6 to 18 players, preferably aged 18 and up. However, the game also works well with younger players, though they might find it harder to stay patient and discreet during the game.

The duration of each game varies, from 30 minutes to up to two hours when players are particularly skilled and patient.

If you want to adapt the theme of your evening, ask your friends to come dressed as Harlequin, Scapino, Pulcinella… and recreate the atmosphere of a 17th-century Venetian salon. Picture yourselves at the Palazzo Aurelio. Arrange small, well-decorated armchairs and a small round table. Add large red and gold curtains. You can even act out scenes and speak to each other in grand, lyrical phrases.

You will form secret pairs; you will know your accomplice but won’t know the other pairs. Therefore, you must have an even number of players, from 6 to 18.

To begin, gather around a table to distribute the cards. But once the pairs are created, the game will unfold throughout your evening—during appetizers, on the terrace, in the kitchen, or while dining. Killer Wink is not played around the table but as a backdrop to your evening.

Take as many “Actor” cards as there are pairs. Then, select “Accomplice” cards that correspond to the chosen “Actor” cards.

Players who receive "Actor" cards will not know their accomplice at the start of the game, while those with "Accomplice" cards will discover their partner immediately upon receiving the cards. They will need to inform their accomplice during the game that they are working together. You can either shuffle all the cards and distribute them randomly or shuffle the two decks separately, giving "Accomplice" cards to those who want to know their partner at the start of the game, and "Actor" cards to the rest.

You could also create mixed pairs by giving “Actor” cards to women and “Accomplice” cards to men.

"Venice, in the year 1610, at the height of the golden age of Commedia dell’Arte, is alive with laughter and revelry. King Alphonse III, a connoisseur of the arts and a great patron of the theater, is captivated by the dazzling performance of ten exceptional artists.

To honor these masters of the stage, he invites them to his sumptuous palace, the Palazzo Aurelio, promising a handsome sum of gold as a reward—a fortune that could change the lives of each troupe member. Under the Venetian moonlight, the Palazzo Aurelio hosts an exquisite gathering of Commedia dell’Arte characters. Masks and costumes glitter in the opulent hall set aside for the artists.

But among them, laughter fades, and smiles conceal secret intrigues when King Alphonse III, in his grand generosity, unveils a chest of gold that shines as brightly as the Venetian sky. The lure of gold sparks secret alliances. Artists form shadowy pairs, duos ready to share the wealth but also prepared to betray for the entire treasure.

Unaware that others share the same goal, the palace becomes a theater of deadly intrigue. The dance begins. Pairs move gracefully throughout the palace, hidden among the shadows. The sinister ritual of death plays out in silent corridors, each “assassination” cloaked in the elegance and subtlety of Commedia dell’Arte.

As alliances break and betrayals are revealed, the golden comedy reaches its climax. Masks fall, laughter turns to silence. The last artists still alive face off in a final duel, intoxicated by the scent of gold. »

At the end of the round, each “Accomplice” can keep their card as proof of identity for their partner. The “Actor” cards can remain on the table.

To make the game easier, you can establish a rule that lying is not allowed when telling your partner that you are on the same team. In this case, there’s no need to keep the “Accomplice" cards with you to prove to your teammate that you’re together. You can return them to the game deck.

Each secret pair’s goal is to eliminate all other players and, ultimately, eliminate their accomplice to be the sole survivor and claim King Alphonse III’s treasure.

In the first phase, accomplices must inform their secret actor that they are partners working together against everyone else. The accomplice must do this discreetly during the evening. They can show their "Accomplice" card to prove their identity if you’ve decided to keep the "Accomplice" cards on hand. Alternatively, they can communicate it verbally or with a simple wink or knowing look, but both players must clearly understand that they are working together.

The eliminated player can no longer eliminate other players, nor can their accomplice. To inform the other players, they must announce "Elimination" at the game table to gather everyone around. They then declare that they have been eliminated and name their accomplice to inform everyone that their accomplice is also eliminated.

Be careful—when someone places a hand on your shoulder, you must not close your eyes or avoid looking at the player in front of you. Be a good sport and accept being eliminated when it happens. If you are eliminated, wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before informing the other players. Avoid revealing too quickly to everyone that you’ve been eliminated.

If the named players are indeed partnered, they must admit it and are eliminated. If they aren’t, the accusing player and their partner are eliminated. Likewise, eliminated players may no longer discuss the intrigue.

Be careful not to be seen when eliminating a player by touch and wink! If another player catches you, they can accuse you, leading to the elimination of you and your accomplice.

When only two pairs remain, the fastest to call “Judgment” can eliminate the other pair by deduction.

Only the last pair remains. These last two actors face off in a final duel.

The final pair then separates into independent players. Each player secretly chooses an already eliminated player, a “ghost,” to become their accomplice. They must discreetly inform their chosen “ghost” partner during the evening with a signal or wink.

The game resumes with these two new pairs and follows the same elimination rules by wink or judgment. Once one pair is eliminated, the surviving actor who is not the “ghost” wins, taking King Alphonse III’s treasure and leaving the deceased actors of The Comedy of Death behind.

Everything is ready. Don’t forget who you are and what you must do. Play throughout the evening while engaging in other activities—drinks around the table, conversation, cooking, setting the table, going out on the terrace, dining, dancing, stepping outside, or even playing other games. The Killer Wink isn’t played solely around the table; it’s woven into the background of your evening.

Be discreet with your partner. Look at each other but avoid staying together too much. Trap other players in separate rooms, alone with your targets. Watch others and their movements. Observe eliminations and deduce who was with the eliminated player shortly before. Regularly count the players left to avoid being caught off guard when only two pairs remain. If you play well, you might have a chance to eliminate everyone—even your accomplice—to leave with King Alphonse III’s treasure alone.

The eliminated player’s accomplice can continue playing without the ability to eliminate others but can still reveal pairs they discover, aiming to be the last survivor at the end of the game.

If some players are uncomfortable with physical contact, you can play without it. In this case, the player facing the target winks at them to indicate elimination. The target must then turn around, and the other player standing behind them also winks to confirm the elimination. The player in the center then understands that they have been eliminated.

The smart version of the game in English is available on The Game Crafter website.