Oh Hanabi, how I love thee.
This fantastic game is one of the staples in our house, regularly coming out for a round or three.
Try as we might (and we do try) we can’t seem to beat the house record of 23 points! Arrggghhh it’s so frustratingly enticing! I want to play again now!!!
The concept is simple enough, as a team players must work to unravel the 5 suits in the deck, and lay down runs of 1,2,3,4 & then 5, consecutively, in each of the 5 colours white, blue, red, green & yellow. As each run builds higher and higher …. 1….. 2….. 3 …… the pressure mounts until the 5 explodes on the table, just like a firework! And that’s where Hanabi gets its name – the Japanese for firework!
Making matters a little more difficult though is the fact that each player doesn’t know what their cards are… the cards are held backward leaving each player to stare helplessly at the back of the card, hoping the carrots they had for dinner will provide the Xray vision needed to see through the card to reveal its value.
The teammates, though, have a complete view of each other players’ hand, and it’s up to them to give clues to assist the player in taking the right action… playing a card to a run, disposing of a card or spending a clue token to give another player a clue. Players can choose from only 2 legal clues.
Play a card in error, and you it could cost you… there’s a limited number of mistakes to be made before the game ends with the deck winning. Dispose of the wrong card, and it could cost you: there is only one 5 of each colour in the deck, but there are many 1’s of each colour, for example, and they’re prime for the trash. Use up your limited number of clue credits on frivolous clues, and you’ll be soon be forced into some rash and risky play.
But, if you manage to play 5 runs, each with 1,2,3,4 & 5 cards in the correct colour, then the 25 points, (and victory over my household) is yours.
Key facts:
- for 2 – 5 players (best with 3,4 or 5)
- ages 8 & up
- plays out in under 30 minutes, so it’s nice and snappy
- only a couple of moments to set up
- easily transportable (deck of cards), so perfect for travel, camping, or the kitchen table
- it’s cooperative: so the players work together to beat the deck!
Hanabi is available at Presents of Mind in store and online.
Hanabi Deluxe is also available and comes as a box of beautiful, resin tiles (think Mahjong) as opposed to cards. Wonderful set, though it’s a little less transportable.