Potato Man

Potato Man

Players
2-5
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
4 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
40 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
1.4 / 5
Year
2013

About the game

Potato Man is a quirky trick-taking game where, counterintuitively, the smallest potatoes sometimes score the biggest wins. Each color of card has its own scoring deck, and winning a trick earns a scoring card from that color's supply: except red's high-value playing cards yield the lowest-value scoring cards, while golden cards run out fastest of all. Once a color's scoring cards run dry, players start collecting valuable golden joker cards instead, changing strategy on the fly. It's a light trick-taking game with a distinctive scoring twist and a tongue-in-cheek potato theme.

Hobbli's Notes

The inverse relationship between a card's playing strength and its scoring value is a clever hook that trick-taking fans will appreciate. It won't unseat genre heavyweights, but it's a fun, quick change of pace with real tactical bite.

What we like

  • Clever inverse scoring twist where low cards can outvalue high ones.
  • Quirky potato theme adds welcome humor to trick-taking.
  • Depleting scoring decks create shifting priorities each round.
  • Quick to teach and play in around 40 minutes.

Keep in mind

  • Whimsical theme may feel silly to serious trick-taking purists.
  • Scoring rules take a round or two to fully click.
  • Less strategic depth than top-tier trick-taking games.

Who it's for

Good for trick-taking fans aged 10 and up, in groups of 2 to 5.

Mechanics