5211

Play cards in secret, then watch the table: the color with the most cards scores, unless there are too many.

Designer: Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi (はしぐちつよし)
Published by: Next Move Games
Editions by: asmodee, Pegasus Spiele, Ghenos Games, Zvezda, Plan B Games, Divercentro

5211 is a compact card game about colors and nerve. The deck holds cards numbered 1 to 6 in five colors, and everyone starts with five in hand. Each round you lay down two cards face down, everybody reveals at once, you refill your hand, and then you do the same twice more with a single card. The color with the most cards on the table scores, unless too many of it showed up: then it busts and the runner-up color pays out instead. Ties for the majority knock those colors out entirely. So you want to push your color, but not so hard that you wreck it. It is a re-release of 5 Colors, with all new artwork.

Cards 1 to 6 in five colorsMajority color scores, too many busts itTwo face-down cards, then single plays

Who it's for

You like secret plays and reveal moments, something in the spirit of a trick game where the count matters more than who wins the trick.

Not for you if…

You want to plan ahead with full information. Most of this game is guessing what the others will lay down.

Vibe's take

A small tug-of-war of guesses and nerves. The reveal is the best part, because one card too many can wipe out your plan.