Last Will vs. The Prodigals Club: Which to Buy First?
By Czech Games Edition | Published: 2026-10-17
Category: Comparisons
Compare Last Will and The Prodigals Club, two money-spending board games from Vlaada Chvátil. Find out which one fits your group's style.
Quick answer
If you want a focused, competitive race to bankruptcy with a clear goal each round, start with Last Will. If you prefer a broader, more chaotic experience with multiple ways to lose money, choose The Prodigals Club. Both are designed by Vlaada Chvátil and share the same money-spending theme, but they play very differently.
Core game loop: Race vs. portfolio
Last Will is a race to bankruptcy. In each round, you choose a plan for the day, which determines how many options you will have available and how much time you will have for them. This creates a tight puzzle where you must balance your schedule to spend money efficiently before your opponents do. The Prodigals Club, on the other hand, asks you to lose money in three different areas: social status, business, and politics. You have more paths to spend cash, but also more ways to accidentally gain it, making the game longer and more unpredictable.
The choice comes down to how much control you want. Last Will gives you a clear, focused objective each round, while The Prodigals Club offers a sandbox of bad decisions. If your group likes planning and optimization, Last Will is the better pick. If they enjoy chaotic storytelling and multiple strategies, The Prodigals Club will keep them entertained.
Player count and complexity
Both games support 2-5 players, but the feel changes significantly with different counts. Last Works well with 3-4 players because the race element stays tight. With 2 players, the race loses some tension. The Prodigals Club scales more gracefully because players interact less directly, so each person can focus on their own ruin. However, the added rules for three different tracks make The Prodigals Club slightly heavier to teach.
If your group is new to money-spending games, start with Last Will. Its single objective is easier to grasp. For experienced players who want more variety, The Prodigals Club offers deeper replayability.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Last Will: Focused race: Each round you pick a plan that limits your options and time. This creates a sharp, competitive puzzle where every decision matters. Best for players who enjoy tight strategy and a clear goal.
- The Prodigals Club: Three tracks of ruin: You must lose money in social status, business, and politics. More paths mean more variety, but also more rules and longer playtime. Best for groups that want a richer, more chaotic experience.
- Learning curve: Last Will is easier to teach because of its single objective. The Prodigals Club has more moving parts and may require a full game to understand. Choose Last Will for a quicker teach; choose The Prodigals Club for depth.
Product facts
- Last Will: Last Will is a race to bankruptcy. In each round, you choose a plan for the day, which determines how many options you will have available and how much time you will have for them. This means every turn is a tight scheduling puzzle. You must plan ahead to avoid wasting actions or running out of time, which keeps the game tense and strategic.
- Sweet & Spicy: Sweet & Spicy is a bluffing card game for 2-6 players and the kid-friendly variant of Spicy. Instead of Wasabi you can now play with Lemon and there is a new card in the game: The SUPER-JOKER. If you enjoy bluffing and lighter games, Sweet & Spicy offers a quick, family-friendly option that fits in a small box and plays in under 20 minutes.
Which one fits your group?
Best for
- Groups that want a tight, competitive race to bankruptcy
- Players who enjoy scheduling puzzles and optimization
Not for
- Groups that prefer a longer, more varied game with multiple strategies
- Players who dislike chaotic or unpredictable outcomes
