Jungo

Beat the cards on the table without ever rearranging your hand, and be the first to get rid of them all.

Designer: 荒尾俊樹 (Toshiki Arao)
Published by: Cocktail Games
Editions by: Devir, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Hobby World, Broadway Toys LTD, Reflexshop, REXhry, Ghenos Games, MIPL, PaperGames (III), Happy Baobab, Happy Camper

Jungo is a card game with one goal: be the first to get rid of all your cards. The deck has 72 cards, eight copies each of 1 to 8, and your hand must stay in the order you were dealt. You can play a card or a set of equal cards, but you can only play several at once if they sit side by side in your hand. To beat what is on the table, play the same number of cards with a higher value, or a bigger set. When you beat someone, you may pick up the cards you beat and add them to your hand wherever you like. If you cannot or will not play, you pass and draw a card. Dual-value cards can count as either number. Plays 2 to 5, in about 15 minutes.

Your hand order can never be rearrangedPlay adjacent cards of equal value as setsBeat someone to steal their cards into your hand

Who it's for

You want a short card game with a clever twist that works for mixed ages.

Not for you if…

You prefer a game with a big table presence or a long arc. This is a 15-minute card duel.

Vibe's take

Quick and clever. The fixed hand order turns every card into a puzzle, and you feel the satisfaction of a perfectly placed pickup.