Sushi Go is a card drafting game for 2-5 players. The box states it is for players 8+, but due to the nature of the game play, even much younger kids can also participate. Sushi Go! is a quick game, taking only about 15 minutes to play.
Gameplay Overview
Setup
Shuffle all the cards in the box. Deal cards to each player depending on the number of players. (Specifics are found both on the first page of the rule book as well as on the Quick Summary on the back cover).
How to Play
Sushi Go! takes place over 3 rounds. You start with the same amount of cards at the beginning of each round.
During the round:
- All players simultaneously choose a card from their hand and place it face down in front of them.
- Once all players have chosen their card, flip cards over and leave them face up in each person’s play area.
- All players simultaneously pass the remaining cards from the hand to the next player.
Continue with the above three steps until there are no cards left. After the last card has been passed, the round is scored.
Round End Scoring
Each type of sushi has a different scoring mechanism:
- Maki Rolls – The player with the most gets 6 points. Player with the second most gets 3 points.
- Tempura – Score 5 points for each set of two (a single tempura card does not score)
- Sashimi – Score 10 points for each set of three (1 or 2 sashimi cards do not score)
- Dumplings – See the chart at the bottom of the card. The top number is the total number of dumplings. The number beneath is points received. For example, 3 dumplings cards will score 6 points.
- Nigiri – Score the points named on the card
Special Cards:
- Wasabi – triples the value of the next nigiri taken by the player (does not score on its own)
- Chopsticks – Use on a later turn to swap for two cards from the same hand (does not score any points)
- Pudding – Save these until the end of the game (set aside at the end of each round). The player with the most pudding at the end of the game gains 6 points. The player with the least pudding at game end loses 6 points.
Game End Scoring
After the third round, complete the round end scoring as usual, then adjust the points for pudding (player with the most gains 6; player with the least loses 6).
The player with the most total victory points is the winner.
The Dad Review
We bought this game when Maci was 6 years old and she was able to pick it up and play with assistance. Now that she’s 9, this game is really easy for her to play. Sushi Go! is a great introduction to card drafting and I recommend it for families new to the hobby. The game pretty simple. You deal out 7 cards to everyone, everyone takes one card from their hand and passes the remaining cards to the person next to them and this goes on until all the cards are used. Then you score for the 1st round. You then repeat the steps above until 3 rounds are completed. It’s quick and easy.
I believe that you can still find this game at The Gaming Goat, Amazon, or Target, but it’s being to reimplemented to the slightly more complex Sushi Party. It is also available for purchase and uses the same mechanics. However, players have a broader menu of items to select from to put in the game. It’s not super complex but it is a small step up from the basic Sushi Go. If you can’t find the basic version, you can still play the party version with no problem.
As a family game, I give Sushi Go 8/10
The Mom Review
I like Sushi Go as a quick, easy to play pick and pass card game. It is very easy to teach to new players. Also, even if someone has no clue what is going on, they can just choose a card and keep going. They will usually figure things out after a round or two.
With that being said, the rules are very simple to teach and understand. The rulebook also has a nice little cheat-sheet on the back to summarize the scoring and act as a reminder.
Setup is super-easy as you just shuffle and pass out the cards according to the rule book.
Sushi Go is a fun game, and the overall score can change dramatically from one round to another. So, if you ever feel behind, be patient. Things might just turn around for you!
I enjoy Sushi Go and give it an 8/10
The Kid Review
I like Sushi Go. First, I like all of the cards, especially pudding. I like that we pick a card and play it, then pass hands. Sometimes I don’t like having to pass the hand, because I love the cards I have and I want to play lots of them, and that’s a great thing. I love that I get victory points based on how many cards that I have of that type. I really like collecting sashimi for the thing that I just explained. I don’t like to eat sushi but I love this game, so I will give this game 10/10.
Overall Impressions
Our Overall Family Rating: 8.5/10
Pros
- Super easy to learn
- Good player interaction
- Lots of choices
- Multiple ways to score
- Easy to set up
Cons
- If you’re looking for a deep, complex card drafting game this is not it.
Other Card Drafting Games You Might Like
- Easy Complexity- Point Salad and Sundae Split
- Medium complexity- Everdell, Ticket to Ride, Wingspan, Sushi Go Party, and 7 Wonders
- Hard complexity- Terraforming Mars
- Teens and older- Blood Rage
What is your favorite card drafting game? Do you have another game you’d like us to review? We’d love to hear from you!