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Writer's pictureAthena

Five small card games for compulsive play

I didn't compile a list of favourite solo games this year. My top ones are Spirit Island and Terraforming Mars which makes said list the apex of boredom. Instead, I'm giving you five small card games which I enjoyed playing in 2020. These are all games that I played repeatedly, as they seem to share the same addictive quality that solitaire pc games do. They feed the compulsion to arrange numbers in a sequence or the satisfaction of lightly thinky hand management. They all have a win condition, are easy to understand, compact, and can easily be obtained (purchased or PnP'd).



I didn't expect to like this game, that's why I didn't buy it when it was first released. I had read that you need to have a strong memory to do well, so I assumed it wasn't for me. It was Eric Martin's video playthrough that eventually convinced me to try it, and I didn't regret it one bit. It is true that remembering the position of numbers in the deck will help you manipulate it more effectively but, even if your memory betrays you like mine does, you may still find the game enjoyable thanks to the clever ways of handling your cards. You also learn to be a little more attentive to your moves, so perhaps it enhances your data retention capability.

There is something satisfying about sorting, putting things in their right place, especially because you make smart moves to get your results. Shuffling the deck well before you start is crucial, or else you'll make things easier on yourself and cheat. Finished! has been criticized for being too long for what it is (indeed, it takes close to an hour) but if you like the gameplay, I believe you won't mind (I don't). Surprisingly enough, the bland theme doesn't actually feel so and the colourful candy and chunky coffee tokens liven things up. All in all, an underappreciated gem and big winner for me.



Such a fun little game! Just looking at the monsters and heroes brightens my evening. I don't usually like pixelated artwork but it matches the theme well in this case. I have the standard version of Puzzle Dungeon that comes in a very small tuck box. There are 25 heroes, each one with a basic and an advanced side which makes for plenty of replayability.

You have a hand of cards, an 'arsenal' of extra cards on the table, and the abilities and symbols awarded to you by the monsters you kill at your disposal. Your goal is to fulfill your hero's win condition (e.g. kill 4 demons and 4 ghosts) before your deck runs out. Choosing which monster to target is the key to winning, as they all give you a special ability when you take them out. I am currently trying to beat the game with every single hero and will then do the same with their advanced versions. I often succeed at first try but not always, and haven't played on advanced yet. Highly recommended, and remerciements to Zerbique who encouraged me to get it. You can buy it from Brian Garber's etsy store.



I've talked about this game before (Regicide on a King's birthday), it has become one of my favourites. I would buy the published version to support the designer but sadly the artwork doesn't speak to me. This is a game that can be played with a plain deck of cards (it helps if you have a fancy one with figures for the court cards). You will also need a couple of D20 to track the health of the Jacks, Queens and Kings. Your goal is to kill them all before they kill you. Once taken out, they eventually become powerful weapons in your deck.

It's not easy to win, and luck of the draw plays a role, but it's also a matter of making the right decisions: when to replenish your hand, which cards to spend for attacking, and when to add cards to the main deck. You can easily reset and play sessions back-to-back. If you enjoy this, you may also want to take a look at Dungeon Bounty (my impressions: Bountiful Dungeons). It was inspired by Regicide and is equally fun to play but it doesn't have a clear win/lose condition which makes it a little less satisfying for me.



We enter PnP territory with this fast, sequence-forming card game. It's very easy to print, just a pack of 40 cards and nothing else. The dark, foreboding artwork sets the atmosphere in what is essentially an abstract arrangement activity. You begin with a hand of 6 cards and play a card every turn, if you can. Your goal is to form a 'cosmic octave', that is a series of letters: ABCDEFGA or BCDEFGAB etc.

Each card you play will either eat at your health, or your deck, or your hand. Discarding cards from your hand can be beneficial though, as it helps you get rid of the Keepers: nasty cards that mostly cause damage. It's not easy to win but it can happen, especially if you use the assistance of the 4 Desperate Cry cards. I know the art may keep some people from trying it, but if you don't always want to see cats, flowers and cartoons in your games, this one is very good for what it is (my thoughts here: The Abyss of the Psyche). You can find it on War Claw Games website.




Maeshowe is going to hit Kickstarter early next year under the title Maeshowe: An Orkney Saga. I have played the PnP and really liked it. If I'm not mistaken, the designer has made some alterations to the rules for the published edition but my guess is they won't fundamentally change the game. You are a Viking trapped inside a tomb, trying to dig an exit. On every turn, you decide which card to play and which card to discard from your hand while balancing three different resources: your health, action tokens and food.

Chipping away at the walls with every set of 4 excavation cards is a relief in a game that is otherwise full of agony. With a little luck on your side, it is winnable. Lee has done a great job with the artwork in the PnP but I'm eager to see the aesthetics of the final product. Judging by the box cover, it's going to look good. (I have written my impressions here: Entombed).

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Cadet Stimpy
Cadet Stimpy
Feb 25, 2021
•

I recently ordered a copy of Fish, Farewell, Forever, for a total of $27/€24.2/33.7CAD. If you'd like to order a copy, contact Naomi Nakagawa at n2@bouken.jp

Photo Courtesy of bouken


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Cadet Stimpy
Cadet Stimpy
Feb 25, 2021
•
Replying to

Otay.

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Athena
Athena
Feb 22, 2021
•

Okay. It's a reasonable price if you don't end up burdened with taxes.

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Cadet Stimpy
Cadet Stimpy
Feb 22, 2021
•

Got another reply from Naomi in Japan regarding Fish, Farewell, Forever:


***

Hello Mike,


Thank you for your reply.


The prices w/shipping cost is as follows.


"Fish, Farewell, Forever" 1pcs to US.

Total price will be $27.00.

This price doesn't include insurance and any taxes.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, I couldn't choose any service with insurance to US this time.


We accept Paypal.

We look forward to your reaction.

***


I recently wrote back asking how to actually purchase the game, stating I couldn't figure it out on their Website. :^(

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Zerbique
Zerbique
Feb 18, 2021
•

I think in Japan it's fairly common to rely on automatic translation. During the brief time I was there, each time I was asking someone something, they were using Google Translate to show me the English translation of whatever they wanted to answer (leading to potentially embarrassing situations when the translation was completely meaningless and they don't understand why you don't understand, since it's English).


I have also noticed on KS campaigns that Japanese ones often make use of automatic translations (for instance the current one for Astromino), no matter how weird it can get. So I wouldn't be surprised if this last surprising line were just that.


Anyway, thanks for the news. It's good to know you can directly…

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Cadet Stimpy
Cadet Stimpy
Feb 18, 2021
•

I got a reply (in English) from my message to Japan, regarding the availability of Fish, Farewell, Forever. I liked the line, "We look forward to your reaction". :^) Here's the reply:


Hello Mike,


Thank you for having interest in our game Fish, Farewell, Forever. Amazon.co.jp used have some, but it seems out of stock at this moment.


Shipping cost from Japan can be bit expensive, but we can ship to you directly.


If you let us know how many copies you need and which country you live then we will show you the price including shipping cost.


We look forward to your reaction.


Thank you.


-----------------------------------------------------------------*--

n2@bouken.jp

Naomi Nakagawa

http://www.bouken.jp/

--*--------------------------------------------------------------*--

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