Sheriff of Nottingham is a stealth communication game about bringing goods into Nottingham to sell for profit. Smugglers decide what to bring in their pouch and whether to declare it. The Sherrif decides whether to challenge them and risk compensation if they aren't lying. It's the perfect game of bluffing where the fun is in tricking your friends and cutting side deals.

With Prince John coming to Nottingham there's the chance of a tidy profit for Smuggler players with goods in the city. However, you have to get them past the Sherrif player. Each turn one player is the Sherrif and the others are Smugglers and must declare which Goods cards are in their pouch. The Sherrif can challenge players they think are lying and impose a fine if they are.

As you progress it develops into a game of bluffing cat and mouse. You can add bribes to make it more likely to be let through - although offer too much and you just look more guilty. Choosing your moment to risk bringing in high-value contraband can make all the difference. Or, if you can work the Sherrif into suspicion and bring in legal foods so they have to compensate you for an incorrect accusation.

The result is a game about knowing who you are playing with. Can you tell when they are lying? Do you know when they are likely to think you are lying? That moment of discovery, when the pouch is open and the truth is discovered never gets old and is usually accompanied by shrieks of laughter.