Board Game Arena - Winter of Games #5 - REVIEW - Yokai Septet

 

    

Yokai Septet (2018)

 

Players  - 3-4 (Easily best at 4)
Play time – 15-20 minutes
Fun 2v2 co-op game with a deep tactical element

 

Day 5 of the, so far pretty fabulous, Board Game Arena Winter of Games 2023, brings us a trick-taking 4 player card game – Yokai Septet. I must admit no knowledge of this game prior to seeing it launch on BGA today, but this does seem to have gained attention in the past from the likes of ShutUp and Sit Down. Indeed, with a 7.4 score on Board Game Geek my expectations were rather high.

Much like yesterdays game Yokai Septet brings us an oriental flavour with a visually appealing theme all based around spirits and demons (Yokai) and a competition between rival pairs to save the villages. To clarify something early here, Yokai Septet is a game that at its core is a 2v2 battle. There are adaptations that make it a 2 or 3 player solo game, but in doing so, you would miss the core of what this game is all about – Teamwork. The core concept of the trick taking and trump suits will feel very familiar to seasoned gamers but there is just enough novelty in there to make it worth your while.

 

Play moves quickly, always a benefit of a trick taking game, and my games have been lasting around the 15 minute mark. Throughout that time the game requires your full attention as you not only have to manage your hand but remember what you have passed to your opponents and analyse what cards have already been played. Each suit ranges in the numbers used, and I was relying a lot on the Board Game Arena prompts to remind me in the early games.

 

As helpful as the Board Game Arena tools are, this is certainly though one game I want to take into  an in person games night. I think the 2 v2 dynamics will make it must more fun sat around a table.

In summary, Yokai Septet is a fantastic trick taking 2v2 battle game that is certainly worth your time and I would suggest anyone to take a look whilst player counts are still high due to this being part of the Winter of Games series. 

 

7.5/10

 

Pros – Easy to learn, 2 v2 element is fun, Quick playing

Cons – Anything under 2 v2 and the game loses its core appeal

 

 

Board Game Arena Winter of Games Rankings so far –

 

1^st Gift of Tulips

2^nd Oasis: New Hope

3^rd Yokai Septet

4^th Trike

5^th Hanonmikoji