Handy Brawl

About this board game

Handy Brawl is a solo, print-and-play in-hand card management game for one player, with a listed play time of 20 minutes. Each game uses only nine cards, creating a compact challenge that can still demand careful decisions.

Setup includes a single shuffle; after that, play is fully deterministic. Your choices shape the encounter, while the same Hero and Monster pairing can offer many possible openings. Change either one—or both—for a different experience.

• Solo play: Designed exclusively for one player.
• Minimal components: A playthrough features just nine cards.
• In-hand format: Keep the cards together in a stack, with no dexterity elements required.
• Flexible sessions: Stop at any time and save the cards as they are in a pocket or wallet.
• Quick gameplay: A game can take as little as five minutes if you do not want to win.

The game invites imaginative storytelling as you break skulls, set traps, and kill powerful foes. Its story-rich character comes from the player’s own experience and imagination, while the combination of Hero, Monster, and card management provides room for replayability.

Designed as an entry for the 2022 In-Hand Game Design Contest, Handy Brawl placed first for Best Overall Solitaire Game and Ease of Holding, second for Best Rule Book, and third for Most Innovative Mechanic. It also received recognition for its use of theme, artwork and graphic design, low-ink printing, and accessibility for visually impaired players.