Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Broker alliances inside the conclave, spend influence on cardinal factions, and hide the agenda that will decide your final support.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Hidden Roles
Players conceal team, loyalty, or identity information from one another.
Area Majority
Compete to have the strongest presence in areas that award control or points.
Betting and Bluffing
Risk resources on uncertain outcomes while disguising intentions or information.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Negotiation
Make proposals, promises, or deals directly with other players.
End Game Bonuses
Earn additional points for meeting conditions evaluated when the game ends.
Read the full game description
Habemus Papam turns a papal conclave into a compact game of negotiation, deduction, and shifting influence. Each player backs a public profile and a secret agenda, then spends influence to shape support among cardinal factions. The same influence functions as both currency and victory value, so every promise and tactical payment has a visible cost. Alliances can assemble the required supermajority, but hidden priorities make loyalty temporary. White smoke can end the election early; otherwise the conclave closes after five tense rounds.
