Tiger & Dragon^*

Tiger & Dragon is a tiny Japanese tile game for two to five players. You throw down numbered tiles as attacks and parry the ones aimed at you, racing to empty your hand. A game lasts barely 20 minutes and slips into a coat pocket.

What is it about?

The small box holds 38 tiles: the numbers 1 to 8, each in a quantity equal to its value, plus a tiger and a dragon. Ten scoring cards set what earns points in the current round. Because a fresh card turns up each time, no two rounds play alike.

How a round goes

1. The start player attacks by laying one tile face up.
2. In turn, each player passes or defends with the matching number, then attacks in kind.
3. The dragon parries any odd tile, the tiger any even one.
4. If everyone passes, the attacking tile leaves the game face down and the attacker plays again.

The first to empty their hand wins the round. You score the last tile you played by the face-up scoring card, plus a bonus point for every attack no one could parry.

Who is it for?

• Fans of pocket-sized fillers from the wider Oink Games line.
• Groups who enjoy bluffing, timing and hand management.
• Families and hobbyists from eight up who like short duels.

Conclusion

Tiger & Dragon squeezes real tactics out of a handful of tiles. The rotating scoring cards keep every round awake, and remembering which numbers have fallen puts you ahead. If you want pure luck, this is the wrong pick. If you like to count and bluff, grab it.