Our Reviews

Zatu Games 90%

We had an amazing review from Michael Wheatley at Zatu Games. To see the full review, click here.

Manipulate truly is extraordinary. What Walrus Ventures Ltd. have done with their game is provide a framework for players to run amok within. But even better, the game itself is surprisingly simple. Set-up takes only five minutes, with the board taking up little space compared to other games of its potential length. By trusting the players to embrace manipulation, the game succeeds in encouraging free thinking and improvisation.

In truth, I cannot remember having a more fun board gaming experience from the very first play-through in a long time. Manipulate asks ‘are you playing or being played?’. Having tested it multiple times I can now definitively answer. I am playing, and will be for a long time to come

We're Not Wizards Board Game Podcast S11 E559

Richard - We're Not Wizards Podcast S11 E559

This game is a diamond in the rough. It is actually really, really easy to play and a really pleasant surprise.

At the beginning of the game, everyone is playing quite calm and nicely. Then once someone plays their first Favour to attack another player, it is open war!

I was the Media Mogul and my Super Favour enabled me to make money off my rivals darkest secrets. By the end of the game we had all literally become the characters we had been dealt, it was absolutely glorious!
click here to listen to the full story (start at 48 mins)

Amazon reviews

★★★★★
Awesome game, heaps of fun!
Played this last night with friends and had an awesome time. Really fun game and quite topical. Nothing similar seems to exist in the board game world at the moment.
Amazon Customer
★★★★☆
Great theming
A fun game that is heavily themed and makes it enjoyable to play regardless of how well you do.
James Pagen
★★★★★
Immense
Like a corrupt Monopoly. Excellently thought out game!
Lois Hill
★★★★★
More fun than a car full of clowns
The real strength of the game lies in making deals with your friends. The more creative you get, the more fun it becomes. Thoroughly recommended.
speaktorob
★★★★★
Best. Game. Ever.
Making alliances, backstabbing, bluffing and laughing at the skeleton cards made this one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played.
Julia
★★★★☆
Best with 4 or more
Absolutely fantastic game. Quick to explain and set up, and once people get into it the game really comes into its own.
Theo M.
★★★★★
Best game I've played in a very long time
Easy to understand, flows well and doesn't take too long to play. Seriously good fun and highly recommended.
Alexander Deck

Board Game Geek reviews

★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Brilliant game
Exploits the fundamental ruthlessness of the human condition. Never had a table dissolve into uproar like a betrayal in this game.
Kriegemeister
Board Game Geek · 7/10
★★★★★★★★★☆
Endless hours of fun
Played this game in a board game cafe and instantly got hooked. Endless hours of fun and each game feels new. Great customer service too, with the owner even helping track down a lost copy.
Grappson
Board Game Geek · 9/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Great game, nice styling artwork
Great game, nice styling artwork. I definitely recommend giving it a try.
Joshdpike
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Customisable playing time
Customisable playing time is a massive bonus, and although it's a bit complicated to learn once you get into it, it's quite intuitive.
dpjnch
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Razor-sharp wit
Always find myself coming back to this one. Stylish game with razor-sharp wit.
Smila_boi_tellum
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Intense and nasty
Excellent game. Once you understand what you can and can't do, then it gets very intense and nasty.
oldvetgamester
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Satisfying to hinder others
Easy game to understand and it is satisfying to hinder others.
Gaming_Redheads
Board Game Geek · 7/10
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Could use clearer rules
Rules are a little too ambiguous. A little more structure around the rules would help. There also should be a suggested turn count depending on the number of players.
countcrow
Board Game Geek · 8/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Favourite game at UK Games Expo
This was by far my favourite game at the UK Games Expo 2021. Best new game I've played since Catan. Full 10 stars from me.
Ellybobs
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Absolutely amazing
Absolutely amazing game, so simple yet so gripping. Every time you play can be different and when someone turns on you it really feels personal.
Mogwaiminion
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Devious and brilliantly social
A devious game which brilliantly and effortlessly encourages feuds and alliances between families and friends. A wide selection of strategies also ensures a strong level of replayability.
Psunder
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Great group game
A great game to play with family and friends. Highly recommended to board game fanatics.
JJSGeek
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Always new twists and turns
Great game to play with family and friends. Different every time and always new twists and turns as you all fight for the ultimate prize of power!
Anagramqueen
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
The winner isn't known until the last round
Great game, really enjoy playing with bunch of mates and family. The best bit is that the final winner is not known until the last round.
Migs493
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★☆
Easy to teach, full of strategy
Love this game. The strategy and deal making are excellent, the artwork is clean and modern, and the cards are pretty funny. Really easy to teach and new players usually have a good grasp after the first round.
Helen_of_Troy
Board Game Geek · 9/10
★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Good for a party crowd
It's ok for a party crowd, or not very serious gamers, but not really suitable for my usual gaming crew.
blackratprime
Board Game Geek · 5/10
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Solid fun all round
An amusing game if a bit basic in the art department. Solid fun all round though.
stealydave
Board Game Geek · 7/10
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
A lot of fun with the right group
Played a couple of times, a lot of fun with the right group. Humour in the game is excellent, although quite UK-centric.
Tom_77
Board Game Geek · 7/10
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Easy to pick up
A lot of fun and easy to pick up. Good opportunities for strategy and to mess with other players.
momo166
Board Game Geek · 7/10
★★★★★★★★★☆
Am I playing, or being played?
The real strength of the game lies in making deals with your friends. The more creative you get with them, the more fun the game becomes. There are plenty of twists, strategy and amusing card descriptions to keep the game fresh.
speaktorob
Board Game Geek · 9/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Every game is different
A really great game, very quick to pick up, but with such depth that every game is different and it will keep you coming back for many years to come!
marccashmore
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Looks evil and awesome
This looks so evil and awesome. Anyone played yet?
BoardGamePrince
Board Game Geek · 8/10
★★★★★★★★☆☆
Fun earlier build
Played previously in an earlier build and the game was fun.
Kev2501
Board Game Geek · 8/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Skill, luck and endless replayability
Highly enjoyable game which can be played on all occasions and in all environments. Strikes the right balance between skill and luck and always keeps you coming back for another game.
deehedman
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Screw over your mates
So fun to play in a group and screw over your mates with so many twists and turns. I love the characters and secret missions, and the cards are really witty.
fmacpherson
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Nothing short of world class
Me and my wife spend hours manipulating each other in front of the fire. 'Are you playing, or are you being played?' This game is nothing short of world class.
Nickcooke
Board Game Geek · 10/10
★★★★★★★★★★
Intense and unpredictable
Played with 3, 4 and 6 people and every game was very different. There's a lot of trading, so you're never sure who to trust, and the skeletons are definitely the funnest part.
SNartink
Board Game Geek · 10/10

Board's Eye View

Board's eye view were a fan of Manipulate and of our new expansion, Agents & Advisors, click here to read the full review.

Boardgamerbros

The Boardgamerbros, influencers, reviewers and photographers of modern board games were kind enough to play through our game. To see the full review, click here

OnTableTopLive

OnTableTop Love interviewed us at the UK Games Expo in 2019 where I gave an overview of the key features of the game, check it out below: