Along with the novelty of cute, anthropomorphized versions of different foods one might find at any neighborhood sushi bar, Sushi Go! from Gamewright also offers a unique game play mechanic: Players constantly rotate hands of cards. In the process, they add to growing collections of cards that are worth different amounts of points, depending on whether they have doubles, triples, or even larger numbers of the same one. Before long, each player has a general idea of the various cards that are in play, and can customize their own strategy to rack up the most points.
Thanks to its wide “cast” of sushi bar foods—including maki rolls, dumplings, different kinds of sashimi, not to mention special cards such as wasabi, which triples the worth of the next nigiri card—any given round will very likely have enough different elements going on that players can each come up with their own path to victory. Some may try to accumulate as diverse a selection of cards as possible, while others may look to gather all of a few specific ones. Either approach is viable, though it should be noted: Every player’s cards are visible to one another, and should your strategy become too transparent, other players can potentially plot to deny you the foods you’re seeking.
Sushi Go! is aimed at kids ages 8 and up, and while the whimsical artwork might seem appropriate for a younger crowd, the game itself requires an attention to strategy—and the ability to potentially change objectives on the fly—which might not make it so ideal. As it is, it’s a good time in the making for both older kids as well as foodies. Since Sushi Go! can accommodate as many as five players at a time, break it out at the next game night, the next time you and friends are going to order sushi, or both. Just don’t forget the traditional Japanese puddings! (Those are cards that you accumulate and then count up once the entire game is over, but the real thing is also pretty good.)
