"trick-taking"

2021 · 2-5 Players · 20 min · Cooperative / Trick-Taking

The Crew: Mission Deep Sea takes the cooperative trick-taking concept that made the original a hit and expands it into something richer, more varied, and better suited to different group sizes. It asks players to solve puzzles together without being allowed to talk about them, and that constraint produces some of the most satisfying moments in any card game at this price point. A weak two-player variant and occasional impossible draws hold it back from perfection. But for groups of three to five who want a cooperative game that plays fast, teaches easy, and keeps pulling you back to the table, this is about as good as it gets.

2024 · 2-4 Players · ~90-120 min · Competitive

Arcs fuses trick-taking card play with space opera area control in a design that feels like nothing else in tabletop gaming. Cole Wehrle's latest for Leder Games uses the trick-taking structure to drive fleet movement, resource gathering, and combat, creating a game where card play IS the strategy rather than supporting it. The base game is a tight competitive experience, and the campaign expansion transforms it into an evolving narrative. The learning curve is steep, the trick-taking can feel opaque to new players, and it demands exactly the right group to shine.

2019 · 2-5 Players · ~20 min · Cooperative

The Crew takes the oldest card game format in the book and reinvents it through cooperation and restricted communication, creating something that feels truly new. Fifty missions of escalating difficulty provide a satisfying campaign arc, the radio token system generates real tension, and the whole thing fits in your pocket. Player count flexibility below three is limited, and the difficulty can spike in ways that frustrate less experienced groups. For anyone who enjoys card games and wants to experience what a Kennerspiel des Jahres winner looks like at its most elegant, The Crew is essential.

2022 · 2-5 Players · ~30-45 min · Competitive

Cat in the Box takes quantum physics, turns it into a trick-taking rule, and somehow makes it work brilliantly. Cards have no suit until you play them, and a shared board tracks which color-number combinations have been claimed, creating a spatial puzzle on top of the trick-taking. Triggering a paradox by being unable to legally play a card is the game's equivalent of going bust, and the threat of it hangs over every decision. It's one of the most original trick-taking designs in years, and the added layers of area control and prediction give it staying power that simpler trick-takers lack. The concept takes a round to click, and the two-player mode is a noticeable step down. At three to five, though, this is something special.

2013 · 2-6 Players · ~30-45 min · Competitive

Skull King takes the classic trick-taking formula and wraps it in a pirate theme that actually matters, turning bid prediction into a tense and frequently hilarious experience. The escalating round structure builds beautifully from simple one-card decisions to chaotic ten-card showdowns, and the special card hierarchy adds just enough spice to keep even experienced card players on their toes. Scoring can feel convoluted at first, and the luck factor means your best-laid plans will sometimes sink without a trace. For groups that enjoy controlled chaos at the card table, this is one of the best trick-takers available.

2017 · 2 Players · ~30 min · Competitive

The Fox in the Forest solves trick-taking's biggest limitation by making it work beautifully with exactly two players. The greed penalty that punishes you for winning too many tricks adds a layer of tactical restraint that most trick-taking games don't have, and the special card abilities create enough variety to keep each hand interesting. It's a small, focused game that does one thing very well. The experience can feel repetitive after many plays, and players who prefer larger trick-taking games with more social dynamics may find the two-player format too quiet. But for what it is, it's close to perfectly designed.

2020 · 2 Players · ~30 min · Cooperative

The Fox in the Forest Duet takes the familiar framework of trick-taking and reimagines it as a cooperative puzzle for two. The path movement system gives each trick real spatial consequences, and the limited communication forces players into a satisfying guessing game about their partner's intentions. It won't click for everyone, particularly players who dislike restricted table talk or who find trick-taking too niche. But for pairs who enjoy subtle teamwork and don't mind some card luck, this is one of the best dedicated two-player cooperative games in its weight class.