The Council game banner

The Council

Free to Play
Release Date:
Metacritic:
67
Developer:
Big Bad Wolf
Publisher:
Focus Entertainment
Platforms:
Windows
Download Game

Game Tags

About This Game



The Complete Season of The Council grants you access to all 5 episodes.

The Council is an episodic game like no other. Delivering a fresh new take on the Narrative Adventure, your choices and character growth truly matter. Make hard-hitting decisions, but also develop an array of skills to directly impact how the story unfolds. With permanent, long-lasting consequences, there is no going back. Plunge into a tale of intrigue and manipulation in the style of a classic murder mystery, living with a cast of alluring characters each hiding their own dark secrets. Trust no one while uncovering dire truths – no matter the cost to mind and body.



The Council begins in 1793, with players taking the role of secret society member Louis de Richet after his invitation to a private island off the shores of England by the enigmatic Lord Mortimer. Joining him are a number of high profile guests, including Napoleon Bonaparte and President of the newly-formed United States of America, George Washington. The strange nature of this private reception goes beyond just the prestigious guests –Richet’s own mother has recently gone missing on the island, while each and every one of the colorful cast seems to have their own hidden agendas.



In a new twist for the genre, the core of The Council’s gameplay comes from manipulating and maneuvering through character encounters using the unique Social Influence system. During confrontations, skills and limited resources can be used to gain the upper hand and achieve the desired outcome. Players will be rewarded for their knowledge of each character’s psychological vulnerabilities and immunities, as well as their preparations made during prior exploration and investigation. Failing an encounter does not mean ‘game over’, and no action can be taken back. The consequences are permanent, and may result in persistent physical disfigurements or mental traits that help or hinder the rest of the player’s adventure.



Richet’s numerous skills can be developed to align with your chosen approach to the adventure. Solve issues with diplomacy, delve into occultism to expand your historical and scientific knowledge, or play detective and see what others do not perceive. Your skills will have uses that extend far beyond your conversations with fellow guests. With 15 diverse skills to use and invest in, players are free to uncover The Council’s mysteries how they see fit, with wildly varying consequences depending on their methods. The results will forever alter the life of Louis de Richet, of those around him, and shape history as we know it.

Screenshots

User Reviews

Very Positive
18 user reviews
83%
Positive
18 hrs at review
Not Recommended

It’s not a bad game in the strict sense of the word, but I can’t honestly recommend it. The core ideas are genuinely intriguing (18th century setting, secret societies, a mystery to solve, and appearances by historical figures like Washington and Bonaparte), yet in the end I feel they weren’t fully taken advantage of. The story, while interesting at first, drifts into strange directions as the chapters go on. Unfortunately, Chapter 5 brings all of that to a head—it feels both too bizarre and too rushed. From a technical standpoint, it’s obvious the game was released a few years back. The visuals are mediocre, and I ran into minor performance issues with frame rates and resolution. I only played through one “path,” but I have to admit the game does provide a wide range of choices—though I’m not sure how much weight they carry later on. On the positive side, the skill system is a great addition, influencing how you investigate and interact in dialogues.

3 helpful
31 hrs at review
Recommended

Amazing game! Still one of my favs! Might even replay if still available one day! ofc I made the craziest ever choices again and ended up with the craziest ending ever haha

4 hrs at review
Recommended

I like it. It is interesting. Worth a run.

11 hrs at review
Recommended

Really fun game, cool visuals, fun historical references, good mystery, challenging puzzles.

System Requirements

Minimum

Minimum:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS *: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-2125 (3.3 GHz)/AMD FX-4100 (3.6 GHz)
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 1 GB, GeForce GTX 750/Radeon R7 360
  • Storage: 15 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED FOR GAME ACTIVATION

Recommended

Recommended:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS *: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 (3.4 GHz)/AMD FX-8370 (4.0 GHz)
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 4 GB, GeForce GTX 960/Radeon R9 380
  • Storage: 15 GB available space
  • Additional Notes: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED FOR GAME ACTIVATION

FAQ

How much does The Council cost?

The Council is completely FREE to play. You can download and play it without any purchase.

What are the system requirements for The Council?

Minimum: Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS *: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) Processor: Intel Core i3-2125 (3.3 GHz)/AMD FX-4100 (3.6 GHz) Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: 1 GB, GeForce GTX 750/Radeon R7 360 Storage: 15 GB available space Additional Notes: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED FOR GAME ACTIVATION Recommended: Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS *: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) Processor: Intel Core i7-3770 (3.4 GHz)/AMD FX-8370 (4.0 GHz) Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: 4 GB, GeForce GTX 960/Radeon R9 380 Storage: 15 GB available space Additional Notes: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED FOR GAME ACTIVATION

What platforms is The Council available on?

The Council is available on Windows PC.

Is The Council worth buying?

The Council has 83% positive reviews from 18 players. Metacritic score: 67/100.

When was The Council released?

The Council was released on Mar 13, 2018.

Similar Games

AI-powered recommendations based on game description