Board Game Arena

Darkgreenblue wrote: ↑24 April 2026, 18:03

BarnardsStar wrote: ↑24 April 2026, 16:09
In short, this site used to have Love Letter (2012) and now it has Love Letter (2019), a different enough game that BGG has a separate entry for it.

BGA doesn’t have a lot of control over the sorts of implementation details you are upset about, sadly.

True. And more specifically, the expanded version with a fuller deck of additional cards (Bishop, Dowager, Assassin...) which was formerly available here, when playing with 5+ players, is Love Letter Premium (2016). I agree that it was easily the most compelling version, with far more opportunity for strategy. Sad that the publisher of that version must have decided to withdraw it from BGA. (Do we know why?)

Gossip has it that there were legal issues with the illustrations of that version, that's why they had to remove the previous version.
BGA did not have those issues, those were between publisher and illustrator, so, the game being removed from BGA was just a side-effect

Great news. I love this implementation! Thanks to everyone involved making this happen

Darkgreenblue wrote: ↑24 April 2026, 18:03

BarnardsStar wrote: ↑24 April 2026, 16:09
In short, this site used to have Love Letter (2012) and now it has Love Letter (2019), a different enough game that BGG has a separate entry for it.

BGA doesn’t have a lot of control over the sorts of implementation details you are upset about, sadly.

True. And more specifically, the expanded version with a fuller deck of additional cards (Bishop, Dowager, Assassin...) which was formerly available here, when playing with 5+ players, is Love Letter Premium (2016). I agree that it was easily the most compelling version, with far more opportunity for strategy. Sad that the publisher of that version must have decided to withdraw it from BGA. (Do we know why?)

It is possible that AEG created and owned the Premium edition, 5 player version and did not transfer those rights. Or ZMan decided the faster playing more strategic 5 player expansion was a slower, less strategic version and decided to add new, uninteresting cards to make the game more interesting.

Either way, LL playing days are over.

I can understand the publisher made changes and that's fine. I have no comment on new/removed cards. What I don't like is how this was designed. The game play is confusing and takes long. Having to confirm a card after you've clicked on it seems unnecessary. The old interface was much more intuitive. It also takes out the challenge by crossing out cards that have been selected. The whole point was to remember/look around the table. I was excited to see this game back but am disappointed with the implementation.

the old version was better: in optic and in playing.
I want the old version back (maybe as option)

Lol at 2 player arena as well. Love this game in person and won't be playing it here.

The giant numbers at the bottom complete eliminate the whole point of keeping track yourself. Even in previous turn based games people would guess a card that was already out. But now that likely won't happen since it's so obvious what is left.

Is it still possible to play the original version? This new version seems to have sapped the easy fun of the original game for reasons I cannot fathom.

If you ever get around to it I would like to see Lovecraft Letters! Its an expanded version of this game with some really interesting characteristics that make it more fun. We play with our group often and it is much better

Good that they have LL online again, alas this version has not those cards that made a game with 5 or more players interesting. No more playing LL on BGA for me.

This version is garbage getting my 5 win rewards and never playing again