Ethan Crossfield 
Licensed tabletop games are becoming an increasingly important way for major fantasy franchises to keep communities engaged between primary releases. A Court of Thorns and Roses is taking that route with Fate and Favor, the first official board game set in Prythian. Its publisher has now revealed the complete contents of the box, giving fans a clearer picture of the game arriving before the next novel.
Fate and Favor Arrives Before ACOTAR 6
A Court of Thorns and Roses: Fate and Favor is scheduled to launch on October 6, 2026, just weeks before the franchise returns to its mainline book series. Sarah J. Maas' sixth ACOTAR novel is currently scheduled for October 27, 2026, while a seventh book is listed for January 12, 2027. Those novels will be the first new mainline entries since A Court of Silver Flames released in 2021.
That timing makes Fate and Favor an early return to Prythian for fans who have been waiting for the story to continue. Pre-orders are open through retailers including Target, and the game is listed at $24.99. Three editions are planned: a standard release, a Target Exclusive Edition, and a Bookseller Variant featuring exclusive packaging.
What Comes in the Box
The package contains the core components needed for a one-to-seven-player strategy experience. Players choose the role of a High Lord or High Lady and compete for influence across Prythian's seven courts. Alliances, relationship management, character abilities, court powers, and changing events all contribute to the contest.
Character Cards bring familiar figures from the ACOTAR universe into the game, while Event Cards and Fate Tokens can alter the situation during play. The court-specific tokens add distinct elements tied to the Dawn, Autumn, and Summer Courts. Players can also become fated mates, creating another possible connection as alliances and rivalries develop.
A Strategy Game Built Around Alliances
Fate and Favor is designed for players aged 14 and up, with a structure that supports both solo play and larger groups. The central challenge is balancing influence, relationships, and court powers while attempting to outmaneuver the other players.
The revealed component list suggests a substantial themed package rather than a small promotional tie-in. Seven player boards and score movers support the maximum player count, while the large supply of Influence Tokens gives the competition a central resource to manage. The event system and Fate Tokens should provide additional changes during each game, although the available details do not explain the full rules or average play time.
Key points
- Fate and Favor launches on October 6, 2026, for $24.99.
- The game supports one to seven players ages 14 and up.
- The box includes a map, 41 Character Cards, 10 Event Cards, and seven player boards.
- The release arrives ahead of ACOTAR 6 on October 27, 2026.
Confirmed ACOTAR release timeline
| Release | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Fate and Favor | October 6, 2026 | Official board game |
| ACOTAR 6 | October 27, 2026 | Mainline novel |
| ACOTAR 7 | January 12, 2027 | Mainline novel |
Expert View
The reveal positions Fate and Favor as a bridge between major ACOTAR releases, giving the franchise a physical activity for fans during a long gap between novels. Its seven-player capacity, court-based components, and alliance-focused design also make it suitable for group play, where the series' relationship-driven themes can become part of the tabletop experience. The biggest unanswered questions are the game's detailed rules and how much strategic depth its event and court systems provide.
