Yomi

About this board game

Yomi is a competitive card game for two players that simulates a fighting game in about 30 minutes. Each player chooses a character deck and battles by predicting the opponent’s next move while judging the changing value of cards in hand.

At the heart of every exchange is a paper-rock-scissors-style contest between attack, throw, and block or dodge. Special ability cards can modify these choices, while successful attacks and throws often open the way for follow-up combo cards. Blocks let you draw a card, creating another decision about how to manage your options.

The game’s name comes from the Japanese word for “reading,” referring to reading your opponent’s intentions. Yomi is not simply random guessing: unequal and uncertain payoffs encourage you to study patterns, anticipate choices, and evaluate what each move is worth as the fight develops.

• Ten characters: The first release includes ten character decks, each with its own abilities and style.
• Fighting-game mind games: Predict attacks, throws, and defensive choices in tense exchanges.
• Combos and artwork: Follow up with combo cards, while every deck also doubles as a regular deck of playing cards.

Designed by champion fighting game tournament player and organizer David Sirlin, Yomi focuses on the skills of Yomi and Valuation: anticipating an opponent and judging the relative value of moves as circumstances change. The complete game features 120 different character illustrations, giving its card decks a distinctive visual identity.