Game Info
Players
2-5
Age
10+
Playtime
30 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
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Kabuki Tricks
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 2 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video EDIT8iqe5HM
Grant Lyon News at 1:51 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83859 · mention_pk 212190
Click to watch at 1:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Twist on a classic genre
- Intrigue about mid-round changes
- Dealer can set initial suit powers
- Players can swap suit powers with joker card
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Joker card — Each player has a joker card that can be played once per round to swap the location of two suits.
- Set Collection — Players bid for the number of tricks they think they are going to win.
- Trick-Taking — It is described as a "trick-taking card game" and a "must-follow trick taking game".
- Variable suit powers — The dealer can set the rank of the suits, and a card can be flipped to change whether high or low cards win.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So, uh, this is my monthly video on the best games coming to retail, the best board games coming to retail.
- I will be at PAX Unplugged, the board game convention PAX unplugged this upcoming weekend in Philadelphia. So, if you are there, please say hello to me.
- So, you know, it's a quick card game for sure, but there's a lot of intrigue about how things are going to switch mid round and how you're going to play out the cards in your hands.
- The interesting twist of the game though is when when the sort of pool of snakes gets too high, it doesn't bust the entire group. It busts the person that has drawn the most things out of the bag.
- So, you know, it requires teamwork and uh precision and stuff.
- I honestly think the worst aspect of the game is the sort of theme and the name Tricky Kids makes you think it's a kids game and it's not a kids game.
- this is another game that feels pretty unique and different in the world of card games.
- And so like I think this is a really good game to play at the holidays, you know, if you're trying to like it really um creates nice moments where like it's like a feelgood game
- So, it is like, you know, for like a 20minute game, it's it's a pretty clever game of how you're playing out fruit and how you're gaining cards to add to your sets.
- And it you are constantly making mistakes, right? You see moo moo and you're like moo and you're like no it's cat like
- So, you know, a thinky game in 30 minutes.
- In December, I'm going to start doing a lot of top 10 videos.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EhaEqXCgO_o
Jamie, Tabletoptiktok Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83366 · mention_pk 209889
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Deep, multi-layered trick-taking with evolving power dynamics that keep decisions engaging.
- Compact footprint and surprisingly rich gameplay for a small box.
- Multiple scoring paths beyond simply taking the most tricks provides flexibility and strategy.
- Joker and swap mechanics create dynamic shifts that invite risk-taking and adaptation.
- Clear, quick-to-pick-up explanations that still support strategic depth over multiple hands.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Kabuki theater-inspired flavor layered over a modern, competitive trick-taking mechanism
- Abstract, round-based trick-taking with a dealer-controlled power order and dynamic suit hierarchy; thematic nod to performers and showmanship through jokers and bid cards
- Rule-first explanation with strategic context and emphasis on how the components shift power over the hand
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Bid cards and scoring — Players bid on how many tricks they will take; scoring rewards accuracy and rewards tricks won, with additional bonuses for precise bids.
- Card swapping (optional joker action) — A player may use an optional joker action to swap two adjacent cards, reshaping the relative power of suits mid-hand.
- End-of-hand scoring and bonuses — Score includes points for tricks won and extra bonuses for correct bids, having the joker left after taking no tricks, and matching the final card in hand.
- Following suit (must-follow rule) — A required-follow rule ensures players must play the led suit if possible; jokers can be played when following is not possible, subject to per-trick joker limit.
- Jokers and joker bidding — Each player receives a joker each hand and may use it to make a bid about how many tricks they will take; joker use informs scoring and risk-taking decisions.
- Mandatory vs optional joker action — Leading a trick with a joker prohibits others from playing a joker on that trick; jokers affect bid visibility and trick outcomes.
- Predictive Bid — Each player receives a joker each hand and may use it to make a bid about how many tricks they will take; joker use informs scoring and risk-taking decisions.
- Round structure and player count scaling — The number of rounds corresponds to player count; the game scales from 3 to 5 players with a fixed per-hand setup and scoring cadence.
- Simulated dummy third player (2-player variant) — With two players, a dummy third player can be simulated to mirror the standard 3–5 player setup.
- Trick-Taking — Players play cards with a dealer-determined order of suit powers and whether high or low wins; power ordering can change as the round progresses due to swaps and strategic decisions.
- Trick-taking with variable power order — Players play cards with a dealer-determined order of suit powers and whether high or low wins; power ordering can change as the round progresses due to swaps and strategic decisions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is not an intro trick-taking game.
- This is a small box, but there is a lot going on.
- It's so fun how everything swapping and you're trying to get your bid.
- I am loving Kabuki Tricks.
- There is a lot going on and this is constantly swapping.
- This is an import that 25th Century Games did.
- This is a must-follow trick-taking game.
- There is a lot of depth here for such a compact package.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ke75_SLmvbs
Tabletop Tolson Review at 0:13 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81561 · mention_pk 203237
Click to watch at 0:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Vibrant components and abstract visuals
- Interesting twist on bidding and joker interactions
- Five-round structure provides a clear arc
Cons
- Theme feels overemphasized relative to abstraction
- Complex bidding and joker interactions may be confusing
- Potential for large swings in outcome
Thematic elements
- music
- Kabuki theater
- abstract
Comparison games
- Lose
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Bid cards and joker-based bidding — Players bid how many tricks they will win using bid cards; a joker card allows bidding and mid-game order alterations.
- Card visibility and hand setup — Players see their own cards and how they map to suits; the play proceeds with lead and following rules typical of trick-taking games.
- Five-suit trick-taking with dynamic suit order — Four suits with an order determined by the start player's hand; the lead's high/low value and suit order can change based on cards in play; cards include 1-10 and a zero trick joker.
- Joker card modifications — Playing the joker lets you change the low/high ordering or swap two adjacent suits, altering the order mid-game.
- Nil bid option — Players can bid nil to aim for zero tricks.
- Predictive Bid — A hedge bid (safety bead) can be used to pair with a bid, affecting scoring.
- Safety bid / safety bead — A hedge bid (safety bead) can be used to pair with a bid, affecting scoring.
- Scoring by exact bid and rounds — Points are awarded when bids are met exactly, across five rounds with escalating potential points; penalties apply for missing bids.
- Trick-Taking — Four suits with an order determined by the start player's hand; the lead's high/low value and suit order can change based on cards in play; cards include 1-10 and a zero trick joker.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Kabuki Tricks, it says, is uh two to five players, 20 to 30 minutes to play.
- it's trying just a bit too hard for the theme when honestly this is just a trick-taking game.
- one cool thing about this game is you're going to deal your cards to your players.
- not only do you get to put your bid out for one, two, or three tricks, you optionally have the choice to change low number to high number, or you can swap two adjacent suits.
- I think bidding with your safety bet is a good way to go, but it's also half points.
- I would prefer something that kind of fits the more abstract style of the gameplay. And in this case, it's loose.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Qf2tvJZCx_k
Board Gaymes James Rules Teach at 0:35 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 81251 · mention_pk 200712
Click to watch at 0:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- The Kabuki art is extremely cute.
- Like the theming of the cards.
- Like how the Joker could do multiple things.
Cons
- The math in it is a little wonky.
- There's a lot of randomness.
- Not as intriguing as some other trick-taking games.
Thematic elements
- Kabuki performances
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Bid/Guessing — Players bid how many tricks they are going to win.
- Joker card — A special joker card that can be played, with specific rules for its use and effect on trick-taking.
- Rule changing — The rules, like what is the high card or triumphant suit, keep changing.
- Set Collection — Additional points are awarded for keeping a final suit card that matches a specific condition.
- Trick-Taking — A regular trick taking game where players play cards to win tricks.
- Variable trump — The triumphant suit can change during the game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So this is Kabuki tricks. There are these Kabuki performances and we have a trick taking deck of cards and we're going to be playing a regular trick taking game. And then the trick of this trick taker is that the rules keep changing as to what is the high card and the the triumphant suit and the uh points.
- Um, so that's that bottom part. Matching suit give point.
- So, there's a lot of flip-flopping around that will happen.
- I think the Kabuki art is extremely cute. I like the theming of the cards. Uh, but besides that, it's not my fave.
- I like these like little Japanese trick ticker things, but yeah, it's um not as intriguing as some of the other ones I've played, but it's not a bad game either.
- I do think it's cute and I think there's a lot of like variation. I like how the Joker could do multiple things.
- Yeah, the math in it is a little wonky.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GVta3y98WKc
The Board Game Garden Haul at 8:35
video_pk 39435 · mention_pk 119026
Click to watch at 8:35 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- spoiler alert, one of my current favorite games.
- I cannot wait to play this one.
- The Luna expansion for Galileo Galilei is my number one thing I had to grab at Pax Unplugged.
- This is probably the game or one of the games that I'm most excited about coming home with from Packs Unplugged.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5