After backing it in like 2023, I've finally had my copy of Molly House (Wehrlegig Games) delivered and had an initial test play with friends.
It's based around the old Molly Houses of 18th century London (think gay bars-come-drag ballroom vibe). You play as Mollies trying to throw parties to generate individual and community joy while avoiding the Society for the Reformation of Manners (a villainous name I've always thought worthy of cinematic adaptation ever since I first studied this period) trying to raid their houses and send us to the gallows.
The art in this game is gorgeous, but what I've really enjoyed is the implicit tension between competitive and cooperative game styles. You win ostensibly via your individual joy, but that means nothing if the community doesn't survive when the Society raids all four houses. You need to work together to maximise community joy and ward off Society. Yet you never know exactly who to trust as some players may turn informant to avoid the hangman's noose.
