Hocus

About this board game

Hocus is a magical poker-inspired card game for 2–5 players, with games lasting about 30 minutes. Players take on the roles of wizards, using spells to manipulate cards, create opportunities, and compete in high-stakes Showdowns.

Each turn, choose one Spell to guide your play. The three Basic Spells let you add cards to a shared Community, build a Pot whose cards contribute points to the winner, or create a personal Pocket. During a Showdown, a Pocket combines with a Community to form a hand, and the best hand claims the Pot.

There is more than one Community, and each one has its own Pot. This gives players the chance to compete in multiple Showdowns when they have enough Pockets. Winning is not only about making a strong hand; you must also judge when and where to play your cards so that an opponent least expects your move.

• Shared Communities: Play cards where everyone can use them.
• Point-valued Pots: Build rewards that make successful Showdowns worthwhile.
• Pockets and hands: Combine your private cards with a Community at the right moment.
• Eight spell books: Explore distinct approaches and special abilities that bend luck to your advantage.

Hocus captures the feel of poker while adding a playful magical twist. Even a Straight Flush is useless without points in the Pot, so timing, targeted play, and careful preparation matter as much as the cards themselves.

With its whimsical wizard theme and flexible spell-driven gameplay, Hocus invites players to revisit a legendary game of cards where folding is not an option and every turn can alter the flow of play.