Sushi Go is a fairly fast card game for ages 8 and up for 2 to 5 players. The game takes about 15 to 20 minutes to play. The idea is your trying to get the best sushi combo. It’s a draft and pass game that’s simple to play. The cards are adorable, and a lot of different ways to score points, so coming up with good combos takes a bit of strategy. It’s a really non offensive game that really can be played by anyone. I have the Sushi Go tin version, personally i would suggest Sushi Go Party over this. It is pretty much exactly the same game but has a board to move around that helps with scoring. Unforunately that was not in stock when I picked this up.

The best way to explain the game is to start learning about the different cards and what they are worth. This is what you will you to score each round.

Tempura: If you have 2 tempura cards, you score 5 points. Unfortunately a single tempura card is worth nothing. However you may score multiple sets of tempura in a round.

Sashimi: If you have 3 sashimi cards you score 10 points. Just like Tempura, a single sashimi card or if you only have 2 cards it is worth nothing.

 Dumpling: The more dumpling cards you pick, the higher your points will be:

Dumplings	1	2	3	4	5 and more
Points	1	3	6	10	15

Maki rolls: Players need to add up the maki roll icons at the top of all their maki roll cards. Whoever has the most icons scores 6 points. If it’s a tie the points are split. The second place player scores 3 points as well. 

Salmon Nigiri: A salmon nigiri scores 2 points but if it is on top of a wasabi card it will score 6 points.

Squid Nigiri: A squid nigiri scores 3 points but if it is on top of a wasabi card it will score 9 points.

Egg Nigiri: An egg nigiri scores 1 point but if it is on top of a wasabi card it will score 3 points.

Pudding: This one is interesting, These dessert cards are scored at the end of the game.  The player with the most pudding cards will score 6 points. If there’s a tie, the points are split.  The player with the least pudding cards loses 6 points.  If there’s a tie, they split the lost points. The pudding cards also decide the winner in the game if theres a tie. This is a very important card to pay attention to.

Wasabi: A wasabi card with no nigiri on it scores nothing. If you choose a squid, salmon or egg nigiri card, and have a wasabi card in front of you, the nigiri must be placed on top of the wasabi. This represents its been dipped and is worth more.  Keep in mind, you may have more than one wasabi card in front of you but only 1 nigiri card can be placed on top

Chopsticks: A chopsticks card scores nothing but is good for gameplay.  If you have a chopsticks card in front of you, you can take 2 sushi cards on a future turn. All you need to do is choose the first card you would like from your hand, before everyone else reveals their cards, yell out “Sushi Go!” and then take a second card from your hand and place it face-down on the table as well. Then all players reveal their cards. Before passing your cards add the chopsticks back in. This can now be played again by someone else.  You can only use one chopsticks card per turn.

Setup:

With the description of the cards in mind. Let’s start by assigning a score keeper, and make sure they have a paper and pencil handy.

Shuffle all the cards and deal the following:

• 2 players, each player is dealt 10 cards
• 3 players, each player is dealt 9 cards
• 4 players, each player is dealt 8 cards
• 5 players, each player is dealt 7 cards

Do not reveal your cards to the other players. Place the rest of the cards  in a pile face-down.

Game play:

Each game has 3 rounds.  When the round begins, all players choose one card from their hand to keep and place it face down in front of them.  Once everyone has selected a card, the chosen cards are revealed.   Then all players pass their remaining cards face down to the person on their left.  Players then choose their second cards, and this continue this pattern of choosing cards and passing hands until all cards are gone and the round is complete. After the round is done, you can calculate the score for your cards.

Before starting the next round, add up the scores and read them out.  Make a discard pile for the cards played. You will only keep your pudding cards.  Those are calculated at the end of the game.  Deal out new cards and start again.

After scoring is done for the third round, it’s time for dessert.  Time to score all those pudding cards. The player with the most points wins. Should there be a tie, the person with the most pudding cards is the winner.