Crazy Mau or Village at Night?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- From 9 players on, only Village at Night works: it goes up to 12 players, Crazy Mau only up to 8.
- Village at Night needs at least 5 players – with fewer people, only Crazy Mau works.
- Village at Night needs a TV, or an iPad or Mac as the table; Crazy Mau also runs on phones alone.
- Village at Night rewards skill more than Crazy Mau (mostly skill vs. lots of luck).
- Only Crazy Mau can be played against the computer – Village at Night needs real players.
- Crazy Mau is quicker to learn than Village at Night (explained in a minute vs. clear after one round).
- Village at Night has more interaction than Crazy Mau (constant debate vs. you react to each other).
- Crazy Mau works from age 6, we recommend Village at Night from 10.
At a glance
| At a glance | Crazy Mau | Village at Night |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Card games | Party games |
| Players | 2–8 players | 5–12 players |
| Length of a game | 5–15 min | 15–30 min |
| Age | ages 6+ | ages 10+ |
| Luck or skill | lots of luck | mostly skill |
| Noise level | lively | loud |
| Learning curve | explained in a minute | clear after one round |
| Interaction | you react to each other | constant debate |
| TV | not needed | needed |
| Against the computer | yes | no |
| Teams | no | yes |
| Bluffing | no | yes |
| Reading needed | no | yes |
Which one suits you?
Crazy Mau
The classic card game with action cards: match suit or number, stack penalty cards and play your wild card at just the right moment. Quick to explain, quick to play, and mean enough to stay interesting.
Pick Crazy Mau when a mixed group wants to start right away and nobody wants to read rules.
Village at Night
A game of hidden roles: at night the wolves strike, by day the village tries to work out who’s lying. The TV narrates, so nobody has to sit out as game master.
Pick Village at Night when there are at least five of you and you enjoy arguing and reading people.
What they have in common
- Both work for 5–8 players.
- In both, everyone has secret information on their own phone.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.