About this episode

Rikki Tahta discusses the design of large group games and shares insights from his experience with the game Coup.

In this Design Talk episode, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron are joined by Rikki Tahta, designer of the hit bluffing game Coup. Rikki shares the origins of Coup, how competition and hidden information shape its tension, and the technical challenges behind making the game work smoothly. The conversation expands into the unique design problems of large-group games—from pacing and engagement to player elimination—and how designers can tackle them thoughtfully. Rikki also offers a look into his digital horse racing project and wraps up with advice for aspiring designers. A sharp, design-focused discussion for anyone interested in scalable and social game experiences.

People in this episode

Hosts: Dirk Knemeyer, David Heron

Guest: Rikki Tahta

Topics covered

• game design
• large group games
• bluffing games
• player engagement
• design challenges
• digital game development

Keywords

• game design
• Coup
• large group games
• bluffing
• player elimination
• digital horse racing
• design advice

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Coup

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