Gevaudan: In the Footsteps of the Beast
Gevaudan: In the Footsteps of the Beast
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| 1 to 4 players | 30 to 45 min | 10 years and up |
Gévaudan - In the Footsteps of the Beast is a competitive deduction game for 1 to 4 players, by Aurélien Devaux and published by Le Lion Vert. It's set between 1764 and 1767, in the wild lands of Lozère: an unknown creature is terrorizing the region and eluding all the kingdom's hunters. Each player embodies a tracker ready to do anything to locate the Beast's lair before their rivals and claim the king's bounty. Deduction, tension, and authentic history blend together in a unique experience, playable in 30 to 45 minutes.
How to play Gevaudan?
Game Setup
- Set up the main boardrepresenting the territory of Gévaudan and its four zones: River, Town, Forest, and Dragon Patrols.
- Place the Beast figureon its starting space, according to the chosen game mode.
- Distribute to each player a personal board, their action cubes, their hunter figure, and their Reminder cardsto note their deductions.
- Randomly distribute the 24 Track tokenson the board — this secret arrangement determines the Beast's lair.
- Choose the game mode: Standard(ideal for beginners) or Historical(with the 20 Character cards, events, and special abilities).
Gameplay outline
- In each round, players spend their action cubesto collect Clue tokens in the different areas.
- Each complete set of 5 tokens of the same categoryprovides a clue: it allows players to eliminate areasor to confirm a lead.
- Meanwhile, the Beast moves around the board according to the result of the movement dieand can eliminate hunters who are too exposed.
- In Historical mode, historical eventsare triggered and Character cards offer special abilitiesthat modify the hunt.
- Players secretly note their deductions on their Notebook cardsand try to narrow down the possibilities round after round.
Win/Loss Condition
The game features a dual endgame:
- Individual Victory: The first player to place their trap on the correct spot wins the king's bounty.
- Collective Defeat: If the bounty expires or if the Beast eliminates all hunters, everyone loses. The Beast has won.
Our Tips for Winning
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Cross-reference clues from multiple areas before betting
A single set of tracks is not enough to pinpoint the lair with certainty. Take the time to cross-reference information from two or three different areasbefore setting your trap. Impatient hunters often go astray and lose a precious turn.
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Watch the Beast's movements as much as your clues
The Beast is not a passive prop: it moves and eliminates. Anticipate its trajectoryby observing the movement die and position your hunter out of its way. An eliminated hunter loses a crucial, sometimes decisive, action.
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Manage your action cubes sparingly
Action cubes are your most valuable resource. Don't spend them on an area already well-documented by another player: take advantage of the indirect clues generated by your opponentsto save your own actions and get ahead elsewhere.
FAQ – All about Gévaudan – In the Footsteps of the Beast
Is the single-player mode truly satisfying or just anecdotal?
The solo mode is designed as a standalone challenge, not as a replacement mode. You face the Beast alone, against the clock, with a different kind of tension than in multiplayer games. Fans of solo deduction games will find a good balance between difficulty and accessibility.
Is the game really faithful to the story of the Beast of Gévaudan?
Yes, it's one of the game's distinctive assets. The History mode Character cardsare accompanied by real documentary notes — Marie-Jeanne Vallet, François Antoine, Jean Chastel, and other authentic figures have their own cards. However, the random setup prevents the same story from being replayed twice.
What is the concrete difference between Standard mode and Historical mode?
Standard mode focuses on pure deduction mechanicswith prints and areas. Historical mode adds 20 Characters with special abilities, 12 additional historical events, and influence tokens, which extends games to about 45 minutes and significantly enriches the narrative dimension.
Is there really replay value?
Yes. The random arrangement of the 24 Footprint tokensensures that the Beast's lair changes with each game. The unpredictable movements of the Beast pawn and the variety of the two game modes mean that no two games are ever truly alike.