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VIVO Deep Dive
What the Community Thinks About VIVO
VIVO has earned genuine enthusiasm from experienced board game reviewers who recognize it as a fresh take on a classic game type. The Dice Tower gave it an 8.5/10 rating and called it "an excellent trick-taking game that you should have in your collection." Multiple reviewers emphasize that VIVO feels distinctly different from other trick-taking games, not just a standard reprint but a genuinely innovative approach to the mechanic. The game's compact packaging in All Play's tiny box line has also made it more accessible and appealing than its original release.
Core Mechanics That Define VIVO
Dynamic Suit Requirements That Shift Each Round
VIVO's central innovation is that the follow rules change with each trick. Rather than following suit in the traditional sense, players must follow color-based requirements that vary dramatically. Some tricks are solos, where everyone must play the same color. Others are duets, requiring exactly two different colors. Trios demand three different colors, and in four-player games, quartets require all four players to play a different color. This creates a puzzle-like element where understanding the current requirement is as important as hand management.
Dual-Winning Scoring System
VIVO breaks the convention that only the highest card wins. Instead, both the highest and lowest cards in each trick are winners. The highest card is scored face-down for a flat 2 points, while the lowest card stays face-up and is worth points equal to its face value. This creates a striking asymmetry: a low card of 3 is worth 3 points, while the highest card in the same trick is worth only 2. Reviewers highlighted this as a key strength because it fundamentally changes strategy. Players with weak hands aren't out of the game, and betting on low cards becomes a viable path to victory.
The VIVO Experience
Breezy and Quick
VIVO plays in about 30 minutes and moves at a snappy pace. The game consists of two rounds of 12 tricks each, and once players understand the mechanic, the flow is smooth and intuitive. One reviewer noted it's "definitely an easy person game" and praised how quickly new players can jump in once they grasp the color-matching concept. The compact box size reinforces the feeling of a lightweight, portable experience.
Strategic with a Puzzle Element
Despite its quick playtime and charming theme, VIVO demands genuine strategic thinking. Knowing which colors you have left, anticipating what suit requirement is coming next, and deciding whether to play low or high creates meaningful decisions. The changing trick format means that a card that would be a liability in one round becomes valuable in another. One reviewer said, "I like that it's a different type of trick taking game. It's not all the same," highlighting how the variety prevents the experience from feeling repetitive even across two rounds.
What Makes VIVO Stand Out
A Fresh Take on Trick-Taking That Doesn't Feel Gimmicky
The core innovation of changing suit requirements sounds like it could be overly complex or artificial, but reviewers confirmed it works seamlessly. One reviewer observed that "a company has found a way to do trick-taking different," suggesting surprise at how well the idea executed. The mechanic isn't a cosmetic change; it fundamentally alters how players approach each hand and creates genuine strategic variation rather than just novel rules for novelty's sake.
Mitigates Bad Hands and Bad Luck
A common complaint in trick-taking games is that players with weak hands or poor luck feel shut out. The Dice Tower reviewer specifically praised VIVO for how its scoring system "mitigates having a lower or a middling hand because not only does the highest card win a trick, the lowest card also wins it." If you're stuck with low cards, you have an actual path to victory. If your high cards aren't coming at the right moments, the low-card scoring gives you alternative strategies. This design choice makes the game feel fairer and more inclusive.
Potential Drawbacks
Thematic Disconnect
VIVO is themed around puppies auditioning for a puppy choir, with suits and colors representing singing voices. While charming, reviewers noted the theme doesn't strongly connect to the mechanics. One comment: "The theme doesn't... the game is cool." The theme serves as window dressing rather than mechanical reinforcement, which some players might find lightweight. However, this didn't negatively impact scores; it's simply an observation that the mechanics stand on their own regardless of the puppy wrapper.
Limited Player Count and Format Constraints
VIVO is designed for 3-4 players and plays best with exactly four, where all four suit types come into play. With three players, the game removes one suit. While this flexibility is thoughtful, the tight player count means the game won't work for solo play or large groups. Additionally, the fixed two rounds of 12 tricks means gameplay follows a predetermined arc with no variation in game length.
If You Enjoy VIVO
If VIVO resonates with you, explore other innovative trick-taking games that share its commitment to fresh mechanics. The Crew and Scout both deconstruct trick-taking in compelling ways, though with different approaches. Cat in the Box adds hidden information to the trick-taking formula. Tango and Farmhand experiment with suit distribution and asymmetric player positions. For games that preserve VIVO's snappy playtime and puzzle-like depth, consider Jaipur or Coup, though these aren't trick-taking games.
What Reviewers Are Saying
"A company has found a way to do trick-taking different. This is a wonderful trick-taking game where there's a nice central gimmick where every round it changes whether players have to play the same color card or two different ones or all four of them have to be played into a single trick."
— The Dice Tower
"It really mitigates having a lower or a middling hand because not only does the highest card win a trick, the lowest card also wins it. And in fact, if the lowest card played into a trick is a six, that's worth six points right there."
— The Dice Tower
"I like that it's a different type of trick taking game. It's not all the same. That's a lot of fun. I really like it because it's really small. So I could see us taking this on."
— Tantrum House