KADO

About this board game

KADO is a gift-themed card game for 2–5 players that plays in about 15 minutes. Across 12 rounds, players give, open, and store gifts while building a personal grid of 12 KADO cards.

At the beginning of each round, every player receives a new KADO card. That card can help develop their grid, but the giver may also face a challenge: the recipient can guess the giver’s card and try to get a better one.

After the challenge, each player places their final card into their grid. The goal is to organize 12 cards into 3 lines and 4 columns, choosing each placement carefully to improve the eventual score.

• Build a 12-card grid over 12 rounds.
• Challenge a giver by guessing their card.
• Score cards by their value, gift type, and ribbon color.

The value of each card matters, but it is not the only scoring factor. Players also earn points according to the card’s gift type and ribbon color, making the arrangement of the complete grid an important part of the game.

Once all 12 rounds are complete, players compare their scores. The player with the highest total wins. With its quick 15-minute play time and simple round structure, KADO centers every turn on the choice between accepting a gift, testing the giver, and finding the best place for the final card.

Released in 2024, KADO offers a compact contest of guessing and grid organization for groups of two to five players.