Cauldron 15

About this board game

Cauldron 15 is a trick-taking card game for 2–5 players that plays in about 20 minutes. Players take the roles of witches, bringing different ingredients together to brew potions while carefully managing a total value of 15.

Play uses the normal method for winning tricks. The key challenge is controlling the total value of each trick: reaching 15 or staying below it is acceptable, but going over 15 causes trouble.

The cards players earn from winning tricks depend on the total value of that trick. This creates a constant push and pull between claiming tricks and avoiding an unwanted result.

• Trick-taking gameplay: Follow the normal method for playing and winning tricks.
• A target of 15: Stay at or below the limit while collecting cards.
• Ingredient collection: Gather the ingredients needed to brew your potion.
• A risky final score: A final total over 15 means you cannot win.

There is, however, a way to neutralise a potion that has gone wrong. By obtaining all five ingredients, a player can neutralise the potion and discard cards to alter their score.

That special possibility gives Cauldron 15 an important scoring twist. Players must balance the immediate value of winning tricks with the consequences of their growing total, while keeping the 15-point boundary in mind.

Released in 2021, Cauldron 15 offers a compact Japanese card-game experience built around trick-taking, ingredient collection, and controlled risk. English rules have been made available online, making the game’s unusual scoring system easier to explore.