Day 156: The “Killer Queen” Arcade Game brings out the best and worst of all of us

For the last few years, an arcade game that is best played with 10 players has swept the world, and I’ve only discovered it in the last few weeks.

What is Killer Queen?

Yes, we know it’s a terrific song by Queen (which saw some life again as one of the early songs you play in Guitar Hero), but this game has little to nothing to do with that rock classic.

Described by its creators as “The Only 10-Player Strategy Arcade Game,” Killer Queen is an indie game of epic proportions. It began as a physical, real-world game played in a field with props and eager souls, and with a little bit of wood and gumption, you can now find one of these cabinets anywhere in the gaming world.

How to play and win

I could tell you, but that’s like explaining soccer strategy to someone, and everyone has their own interpretation. Here’s a more detailed (unofficial) overview of the gameplay.

The cabinet does describe what you should do at the start of any game, and that’s by design.

How to win and yet still be a loser

My first time playing the game was somewhere in the Fremont district of Seattle. My…