A downloadable game for Windows

The game has been translated into English. The screenshots show the version created for Mağara Jam 2025. This game was developed in 48 hours for Mağara Jam 2025.
The Deliberation - Mağara Jam

The Deliberation

In this game, the goal is simple: a jury gathers to deliberate and deliver a verdict. But the rules are strict—if even one juror votes differently, the decision is invalid. Every juror is bound to the others, and only when they speak with a single voice can justice be done.

Your task is to preserve this fragile balance and unite the jury in one decision. The cards in your hand represent strategies: with Logic, Empathy, Procedure, and Control cards you appeal to jurors’ sensitivities, while at the right moment you reveal witness statements and the timeline to shape the trial’s flow.

But beware: hasty or costly moves can damage your reputation, raise tension, and push you out of the game.

Justice has only one voice. It’s up to you to bring it together.

Highlights

  • Consensus Goal: Bring all jurors to the same decision.

  • Reputation & Consequences: Every wrong move lowers your reputation; if it hits zero, the game ends.

  • Fog of Doubt: Suspicion threshold shifts, altering the direction of the case.

  • Card Arsenal: Logic, Empathy, Procedure, Control, and Rare cards target different sensitivities.

  • Evidence & Testimonies: Use witness statements and the timeline at the right moment to turn the tables.

  • Room Dynamics: Balance tension, openness, and anger; beware of chain reactions.

  • Difficulty & Case Selection: Unique cases at varying levels of difficulty for replayability.

  • Short Sessions: Each case lasts 20–40 minutes; playable in one sitting.

Who Is It For?

  • Players who enjoy legal drama and serious strategy.

  • Fans of card synergy, resource management, and risk/reward decisions.

  • Those who seek dialogue-driven persuasion and psychological tension.

HOW TO PLAY

Objective

Unite the jury in a single verdict. The default defense goal is consensus on “not guilty.”

Each juror’s vote ranges from 0–100%. If a juror’s value is below the threshold, they are on your side.
(The threshold is shown on the left panel of the screen under the Guilty heading as “>Threshold.”)

  • If vote ≥ threshold → Guilty

  • If vote < threshold → Not Guilty

You win when all jurors are on the Not Guilty side.

Basic Flow

  • Play a Card: Select a juror and use a card (costs Action Points). Effects may spread to neighbors.

  • Reveal Info: Open Evidence/Witness/Timeline for free; each has small penalties.

  • End Turn: Action Points refresh (base 2 + reputation bonus). Tension rises, and small events may occur.

Metrics

  • Action Points: Spent to play cards; refreshed each turn. Higher reputation increases the refresh rate.

  • Reputation (0–100): Boosts card effects and Action Point income. If 0 → game over (no one listens to you).

  • Tension (0–100): The higher it rises, the harder the room becomes to manage. If 100 → game over.

  • Threshold: As suspicion decreases, the threshold rises, making it harder to convict (benefits the defense).

Reveal Penalties

  • Evidence: Raises tension.

  • Witness: Lowers reputation.

  • Timeline: Raises tension.

Win / Lose Conditions

  • Win: All jurors align on the same side (consensus).

  • Lose: If reputation reaches 0, tension reaches 100, or time runs out.

Tips

  • First gather the “easy to persuade” jurors; herd mentality helps.

  • Don’t burn reputation early by revealing witnesses—save them for critical moments.

  • Spread out Evidence/Timeline reveals to avoid spiking tension.

  • Save Rare cards for when the threshold is close; use them to secure consensus.

  • As the threshold rises, borderline votes lean toward Not Guilty; suspicion-driven moves favor the defense.

Content Note

Features mature legal drama. Contains no violence or disturbing imagery.

External Resources

More information

Download

Download
The Deliberation(en).zip 60 MB

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