Makoto (EN/DE) - board game

Product detailed description

Makoto, which means “sincerity” in Japanese, is a clever and fast-paced climbing card game with beautiful artwork depicting the journey of a Ronin through the Japanese countryside. Each round, players start with a hand of cards (values 1–16) and a number of cards are dealt face up into the center as the blind.

The lead player plays a combination — either a set of cards of the same value or a run of at least three cards. Other players must then play the same type of combination at a higher value or pass (passing does not eliminate you from the round). A four-of-a-kind — a Kensei — can be played over any other combination and is only beaten by a higher Kensei.

When all players pass in succession, the round ends and the last player who played a combination collects all played cards and becomes the lead player for the next round.

After playing, you may:

• discard one card to the blind that is lower than anything you played, or

• pick up cards from the blind, as long as they are the same value, lower than your played cards, and no more than the number of cards you played.

Once you empty your hand, you gain a bonus (the later you go out, the smaller the bonus). When all but one player have gone out, the round is scored — but only 2s, 5s, and 10s score points. After a set number of rounds, the player with the highest score wins.

Makoto is all about clever hand management and deciding when to keep pushing… and when to hold back.

Players: 2–6
Age: 8+
Play time: approx. 20 minutes

The game is language-independent, and the rules are included in English, German, and French.

Key features

• Family-friendly climbing game with depth

• Beautiful Japanese-themed artwork

• Simple rules, tactical gameplay

• Constant tension between risk and reward