Daxu

About this board game

Daxu is a two-player card game with a playing time of about 30 minutes, first released in 2015. Players compete to collect sets of cards representing six different types of shops while seeking the most points.

Each round, several cards are flipped, creating a shared decision. Players choose whether to take the cards for themselves or give them to their opponent. The cards you obtain become part of your personal collection, so every decision can strengthen your own position—or improve the other player’s options.

The six shop types are:

• Bakery
• Rice wine shop
• Wood cutter
• Basket maker
• Silk dealer
• Tea house

Some cards provide reputation points, while others cause you to lose reputation. However, collecting too heavily in a single shop type can leave your customers dissatisfied. If you focus too much on one kind of shop, your opponent may gain points instead of you, making balance just as important as collection.

At the end of the game, players score according to who holds the majorities in the different shops. A majority earned by only a few cards rewards you with points, but pushing that majority beyond a certain point can reverse the benefit and score for your opponent instead.

With its simple card choices and carefully balanced scoring, Daxu turns every shop collection into a risk-reward decision. The winner is the player who collects the most points from shop majorities and reputation points.