Hanamikoji

What can I say about this game? It's the game that introduced me to the "pick a card, I'll get what's left" mechanic, and in my opinion, it does it good. It's simple to teach, fun, funny, but mostly for casual gaming. It can be competitive, but it feels a bit limiting as the card draw can be very punishing here. Making a plan is simply tied to luck and hope, as most of times, it just might not possible to see it come to fruition at all. And there aren't many ways or turns to mitigate your plan falling apart. Still, me and mom both love it. Simple, but exciting at times. Great for what it is and what it offers. You just need to know what you're getting into.

This is a fun 1v1 game that always keeps me engaged. There’s a slight element of luck in removing one card, but that’s part of its charm. I’ll always be happy to teach and recommend this strategic game to anyone!

Amazing two-player card game. You choose between four actions and one game is just four rounds. So every action will be done, but the order is your choice. Two of the actions are I split you choose options meaning your opponent will have the first choice of cards you offer. The rules are not complex, but it takes a while to understand the concept and how to play smartly. Even after a couple of plays you are still not sure if you are really playing it well. The artwork is very nice and the game is usually not too long. If you were looking for a unique, pretty and thinky two-player card game, you should give this one a try.

Exquisite design that embodies the word "elegant" to the core, with zero cliche. Every choice is difficult, but can be measured. You are in control of how reliant you are on probabilities of various kinds, from the opponent's hand to top-decking. The actions and the order you play them in have a push-and-pull that is fully up to you. The mind games that can be played within this framework are wonderfully crisp. I cannot recommend Hanamikoji enough. Essential.

I cannot make any modifications to the game. It is a perfect masterpiece. Every parameter is deeply connected to others, like notes in a symphony. Easy to learn, quick to play but deep in strategy, no obvious advantage of first/second hand. The deck size of 21 cards makes it feasible to enumerate each possibility with an educated guess of your opponent's mind. Similar to Twilight Struggle, you have to minimize the backfire of your cards in hand.