Kitsu

About this board game

Kitsu is a 25-minute game for 2–6 players, played as a head-to-head contest or in teams of 2v2 or 3v3. The Kitsune are divided into two clans: Zenko, represented by blue cards, and Yako, represented by orange cards.

At the beginning of the game, you are assigned one clan. However, victory requires more than simply relying on your own side: you must play with cards from both your clan and the opposing clan. Reading the situation and adapting your strategy are central to every round.

A round consists of a series of tricks. After each trick, compare the total value of the orange Kitsu cards with the total value of the blue Kitsu cards. The clan with the higher total advances its Kitsune marker on the Wisdom track by the difference between the two values.

• A difference greater than 4 gives the team that lost the trick a Power token.
• A round ends when one clan brings its Kitsune marker to the absolute wisdom space.
• The game ends when one clan has won 2 rounds.

Special cards add variety to the tricks, while the timing of each play can cause strategies to shift. Power tokens provide another important factor to consider, creating opportunities for the losing team even when a trick ends with a substantial difference.

With its clan-based card play, changing tactical decisions, and Wisdom track, Kitsu challenges players to judge when to pursue an advantage and when to prepare for what comes next.