BigWig^*

BigWig is a quick trick-taking card game from HABA for 2 to 6 players aged 8 and up. Everyone plays cards face down at the same time, and the trumps keep shifting.

What's it about?

The realm of the Norse gods has fallen into chaos. Everyone is fighting over the BigWig, an artifact that grants control over all worlds and all times. Designers Mario Mittermüller and Dominik Artefex turned that premise into a compact card game that plays in about 20 minutes.

How it plays

A round goes roughly like this:

1. A scoring card is revealed. It sets the trump colors and shows what the trick is worth.
2. Everyone secretly picks a card, then all reveal at once.
3. The winner of the trick takes the scoring card.
4. On a tie, the reward slides under the altar and waits there.

Your personal "Mímir's Well" card lets you sacrifice cards to draw new ones. That keeps your hand flexible.

What makes it stand out

• Hidden simultaneous play instead of classic follow-suit.
• Trumps that change with every scoring card.
• Special cards that bend or flip the rules.
• Holmgang duels, where the player with the fewest points challenges a rival directly.

A duel is fought over the scoring card plus everything stacked under the altar. The game ends after the fourth Holmgang. Whoever has the most victory points claims the BigWig.

Who is it for?

It fits families and casual groups who like trick-taking but want something less predictable. The duels give trailing players a real shot at catching up.

Conclusion

BigWig blends the old trick-taking idea with bluffing, timing and a bit of take-that. It is fast, loud and often surprising. If you enjoy reading what others are about to do, you will like it. If you want a classic trick-taker with full control, the chaos may annoy you.