Yokai Pagoda
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 15 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 8+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 1.5 / 5
- Year
- 2023
About the game
Yokai Pagoda is a quick hand-management card game themed around ten mischievous Japanese spirits awoken by curious visitors to a mysterious pagoda. Players play cards to either gift cards to opponents, draw new cards, or end the round, deciding carefully when to keep playing versus locking in a low score. Only the lowest-valued card of each Yokai type counts toward your score, so managing which cards you keep and which you pass off matters greatly. After three rounds, the player with the fewest points in their personal reserve wins.
Hobbli's Notes
The 'lowest card only counts' scoring twist makes for some genuinely tricky decisions about when to end a round. It's a light, portable game with a nice mix of hand management and bluffing about when to strike.
What we like
- Distinctive hot-potato card-passing mechanic.
- Whimsical Yokai spirit theme with striking art.
- Quick to teach, play, and pack away.
- Rewards careful timing on when to end each round.
Keep in mind
- Scoring rule of only counting the lowest card can confuse new players at first.
- Fairly light strategic depth for experienced card gamers.
- Small card-only footprint offers limited long-term variety.
Who it's for
Good for casual card gamers aged 8 and up, in groups of 2 to 5.
