Yōkai Yen?!!^*

Yōkai Yen?!! is a quirky card game from HABA for 2 to 4 players aged 10 and up, built around one odd rule: you never get to see your own hand.

What is it about?

Leader Lulu and her Yōkai minions have blown all their money betting on the Lucky Cat Fights, and now they need a scapegoat. In keeping with that, the first player to go broke wins, meaning the first to get rid of every card. Designed by Thade Precht, a game takes about 20 minutes. It belongs to the XOXO Ludomatic Universe, where each title adds to an ongoing story.

How a turn works

At heart this is a climbing game. The difference is that someone else at the table manages your cards.

1. You instruct your manager by naming positions in a fixed sorting system.
2. The manager plays those cards, either singly or as a set.
3. The play must beat the previous one. If it does not, you take a penalty.
4. The first player out of cards wins.

What makes it tick

• Memory: you have to track what might be in your hand.
• Deduction: every played card tells you something.
• Take that: bad calls cost you, and everyone enjoys watching.

Who is it for?

It suits groups who know climbing games and fancy an unusual twist. Chaos is part of the concept, so you should enjoy that before you sit down.

Conclusion

If you love short, silly card games that still reward thinking, this is a fresh idea worth a look. If you need full control of your cards, calling plays blind may frustrate you.