DARVO™ isn’t just a card game. It’s a mirror , and a tool.
In our homes, in relationships, at work , we’ve all seen it happen: Someone denies the harm, attacks the person calling it out, then rewrites the story so they become the victim. It’s a familiar, maddening pattern. And now it has a name: DARVO , Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.
The DARVO paradigm was originally identified by Dr. Jennifer Freyd, a distinguished psychologist known for her work on institutional betrayal and trauma. We acknowledge and credit her important contribution to the understanding of this behavioral pattern. However, Dr. Freyd is not associated with, nor does she endorse, this game or the DARVO™ project.
At Unus Mundus LLC, we took this dynamic and turned it into something unexpected: A darkly comedic roleplay card game that brings these real-life behaviors into the open , to spot, name, and flip the script.
What Is DARVO™?
DARVO™ is a social strategy card game where players act out manipulative tactics, call each other out, and build resistance through assertive responses. It’s awkward. It’s funny. It’s real.
Designed for 3 to 10 players, it works in casual game nights, therapy sessions, college courses, and workplace training alike.
The game includes:
- 48 DARVO behavior prompt cards (based on real DARVO tactics)
- 80 Assertive responses, delivered on 20 cards (to challenge and counter)
- 80 Triggers, delivered on 20 cards
- Expansion sets, including DARVO in Love™
Players act out cards in scenes ranging from romantic arguments to HR nightmares. It’s uncomfortable , by design. Because playing the game is practice for real life.
Why Now?
We’re seeing a cultural shift. People are learning to name toxic patterns, set boundaries, and resist emotional manipulation. But doing that in real time takes skill, and rehearsal.
DARVO™ lets players practice those conversations in a safe (and slightly absurd) environment. Laughter helps. So does calling it out.
Launching on Kickstarter – September 2025
We’re excited to announce that DARVO™ will launch on Kickstarter this September. Early backers will get:
- First edition copies
- The “DARVO in Love™” Expansion Pack
- And the chance to help us shape future editions
We’re building a community around emotional intelligence, self-defense, and social insight , through gameplay.
Want to Play or Partner?
We’re offering free demos for organizations, therapy practices, counseling programs, and game shops. We’re also seeking playtesters, influencers, and early adopters who see the value in spotlighting manipulative dynamics and emotional growth , with a bit of humor.
Learn more and sign up at DARVO.xyz For demos, wholesale, or partnership inquiries: [email protected]
Let’s name the game, so we can stop playing it.
By Chris Daniel, Unus Mundus LLC | Publisher of DARVO™ Kickstarter Campaign Launching September 2025
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