Sheriff of Nottingham, the bluffing and set collection game that has launched a thousand "I swear it's just apples" arguments, is moving to a new publisher. Asmodee has acquired the IP from CMON and placed it under the Z-Man Games banner, where it joins the likes of Pandemic, Citadels, and Love Letter.
Designed by Sergio Halaban, Bryan Pope, and Andre Zatz, Sheriff of Nottingham is a 3-5 player game where merchants try to sneak contraband past a rotating sheriff through bluffing, bribery, and barefaced lies. First published in 2014 by Arcane Wonders, it quickly became a staple of game night collections and a go-to gateway for anyone who loves a bit of social deception.
This marks the third time Asmodee has purchased a CMON IP in the past eight months, following the acquisition of Zombicide and Cthulhu: Death May Die. CMON has been steadily shedding assets amid ongoing financial difficulties, with the company reporting cumulative losses that prompted auditor concerns earlier this year.
An Asmodee spokesperson described Sheriff of Nottingham as "a well-established evergreen card game centred on bluffing, negotiation, and high player interaction," noting that it fits neatly into their growing social games category. Z-Man Games feels like a natural home for the title, given the studio's track record with accessible, widely loved games.
For players, the good news is that the game should remain readily available. If anything, Asmodee's distribution muscle could make it easier to find on shop shelves.
Sources: Board Game Wire | ICv2
