Ladder 29

About this board game

Ladder 29 is a firefighter-themed card game for 2–5 players, played in about 45 minutes, where players race to extinguish their hands while managing demanding challenges.

Each round, every player receives 13 cards and passes three cards to the player on the left. Players then select a hotspot card in reverse scoring order. Each hotspot card shows how many points are available for different finishing positions and gives its player a challenge that lasts for the round.

• You may be allowed to lead only singles.
• You may have to end runs in even numbers.
• You may face restrictions on which suits can be played in sets.

These challenges make every round a test of timing and judgment. Players must decide when to play safely and when to accept greater risk for the possibility of a bigger reward, while working through the restrictions on their hotspot card.

The first player to play all 13 cards extinguishes their hand, wins the round, and earns the highest possible score shown on their hotspot card. Play continues as the remaining players go out, with every player except the one who finishes last earning points for their finishing position.

With its easy-to-learn rules and changing personal challenges, Ladder 29 brings a heated race to every hand. Released in 2017, it combines card passing, hand management, positional scoring, and push-your-luck decisions in a compact firefighting contest.