Whale Riders: The Card Game

About this board game

Whale Riders: The Card Game is a 2021 card game for 2–5 players, with an approximate play time of 20 minutes. Players journey together along the Ice Coast to buy goods and gather supplies for their clans before the winter arrives.

A sudden drop in temperature means the coast will freeze early, making the final journey for supplies more dangerous than usual. The whale riders therefore bond together for one last group expedition, agreeing to share one large consignment in each port.

At every port, however, the riders have different preferences for the consignments on offer. What begins as cooperation quickly becomes a contest as players negotiate and maneuver to close the deal they want most. The shared journey creates common opportunities, but changing priorities can turn fellow travelers into competitors.

• Travel from port to port along the Ice Coast.
• Buy goods and gather supplies for your clan.
• Share a large consignment with the group at each port.
• Compete when the available deal matches another rider’s preferences.

Whale Riders: The Card Game reimplements Reiner Knizia’s classic card game Trendy, placing its central competition in the world of whale riders and the frozen Ice Coast. The setting gives each short game a clear sense of urgency: the riders must complete their final shared journey while supplies are still available.

With its blend of temporary teamwork and renewed competition, this card game centers on the tension between helping the group and pursuing the proposition that suits you best. It is a compact journey through a changing series of port deals, designed for 2–5 players and around 20 minutes of play.