Werewolves in the Dark: Our July 4th Tradition

The Review Crew's Take on
The Werewolves of Millers Hollow

# Players . . . 8 to 18

Game time . . . . . . . . 30 minutes

Set up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 minutes

Luck  . . . . . 5. . . . . . Strategy

*Interplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.8

Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Component Quality . .. . . . . 7

*Replayability . . . . . . . . . . . 9



*See "How we Rate" for a definition.

Several years ago, the crew and families started attending the July Fourth fireworks display in a neighboring city. We got to our spot early, enjoyed munchies and games until show time, and oohed and aahed over the fireworks. Then came the downer of the evening--a massive post-fireworks traffic jam. 

Same problem the next year and the next.   It was almost enough to make us swear off pyrotechnics.  But about four years ago we hit upon a solution that has become tradition. As soon as the last ember  fades from the sky, out comes the game of Werewolves. While cars around us inch their way out of the parking lot and onto larger roads, we gather in a circle and become the troubled village of Millers Hollow. Werewolves attack, villagers die, and accusations fly. Thirty minutes pass like five. The village is saved or devoured (as happened last night), but our other problem has solved itself. We pack up and head home, happy with our country's independence and its much clearer roads.  

The problem: a line of brake lights.

The Solution: a game.

At the moment, the villagers are asleep. A werewolf attack is inevitable. (The werewolves open their eyes and point out someone to eliminate. Other characters open their eyes at different times.)

Marin, in the middle, moderates. (The moderator doesn't actually play the game, just manages the flow. This is seen as a minor negative to the game by some. But we have family members who enjoy doing it.)

The villagers are dwindling and the accusations becoming more desperate. "She's one. No he is!"

Sweet thing Megyn with a flower in her hair was actually a nasty. She and fellow man-eaters Jared and Peter downed the village.

Although the box says the game is for players 10 and up, all but the youngest two members of our families play. Precocious nine-year-old Tea has been playing for three or four years now. 

Expansions with additional character cards are available.