Sushi Go! – One Of The Best On-The-Go Card Games

 

What is Sushi Go! and how do you play it?

Sushi Go! is a pick-a-card-and-pass-it-to-the-next-player kind of card game. Where you collect sushi to try and make special combos that will translate into points round after round. After 3 rounds you total up all the points and also bonus points to see who’s the sushi master!

How to play Sushi Go! is simple! Everyone is dealt out cards to form your first hand. You select 1 card from your hand and then you pass it to the next player clockwise to you. Players will strategize on forming and picking the cards that get you the best combos and the most points. As you go around passing hands and picking cards, the hands will slowly deplete until everyone is out of cards. That is the end of round 1! Everyone adds up their cards and then writes down how many points they got. After a total of 3 rounds everyone adds the total they got for all 3 and then whoever has the highest score is the sushi master. If there’s a tie, the person who has the most pudding cards wins.

Do You Love Sushi?

Sushi is obviously super delicious and loved by many people around the world. Here’s a little fun fact, sushi was not meant to be eaten with chopsticks. Originally it was meant to be eaten with your hands! It was supposedly considered to be polite to eat it with your hands. My wife and I love our sushi which is why we originally got Sushi Go! For people looking for gifts for friends and family, if they love sushi I think they would really appreciate this game like we did.

General Information
Play Time: 15 Mins
Publisher: Gamewright
My Recommended Age Group: 8+
Player Count: 2-5
Difficulty 1-10: 3

What are the different types of sushi cards in Sushi Go!?

Card Type \ Sushi Name	Description
Dumpling	Getting the most points out of Dumplings is by collecting as many as you can. Collect 2, get 3 points, collect 5, and get a whopping 15 points!
Maki Roll	Pudding is special because it stays throughout the 3 rounds. They are then totaled at the end of the game to see who has the most and least. Most are rewarded 6 points, while the least is deducted 6 points.
Nigiri	Wasabi is specifically made and is useless without Nigiri. Wasabi must be played first and will times whatever Nigiri you place on top of it by 3. The first Nigiri you place after Wasabi is used. You can not wait for a better Nigiri to come around. If you don’t place a Nigiri in time before the end of the round. Wasabi will gain you no points.
Wasabi	Probably the most interesting card in the game. You place down your Chopsticks then anytime later in the round you may pick them up and replace them with a card in your hand. So the point of the Chopsticks is to try and combo something together all in one hand. Allowing you to place two cards down in a single-hand phase.
Tempura	Gaining points for Tempura is as easy as collecting two cards of Tempura. Once you do you gain 5 points. You can only have 1 set of Tempura so don’t collect more than two cards total.
Sashimi	3 different Nigiri sushi cards: egg (1-Point), salmon(2-Points), and squid(3-Points). Each gives a simple amount of points. Nigiri has a special combo with wasabi that can drastically change the total points awarded at the end of the round.
Pudding	Sashimi is very similar to Tempura but instead needs 3 total cards to gain 10 points. Same as Tempura you can only collect a total of 1 set of Sashimi in a round.
Chopsticks	Probably the most interesting card in the game. You place down your Chopsticks then anytime later in the round you may pick them up and replace them with a card in your hand. So the point of the Chopsticks is to try and combo something together all in one hand. Allowing you to place two cards down in a single hand phase.

How many players can participate in a game of Sushi Go!?

Sushi Go can be played with a total of 5 players. It’s great for most of any kind of party that you might be going to. You must at least have 2 players to play.

What is the objective of Sushi Go! and how do you win?

The objective is to gain more points than your fellow players. Keeping an eye on what cards and combos they need opens opportunities to stop their combos by taking what they need. Gauging where you and your opponents are throughout the game is important for your success. Take your time to try and contemplate your options. Consider each card and possible combination, sometimes you gotta start to do the math to really get that extra few points. But doing the math could possibly make the difference in a game.

Are there any strategies or tips for playing Sushi Go! effectively?

Card Type \ Sushi Name	Tips
Dumpling	I grab wasabi almost every time I get the chance. I will also grab a squid nigiri almost every chance I get. In either situation, the points are usually worth it
Maki Roll	Wasabi is an obvious must-grab card. It has one of the best combos with a total of 2 cards for 9 points when you combine it with the squid nigiri.
Nigiri	Do not find yourself getting into a maki roll battle with people. It’s just not worth spending 4 or 5 cards to try and get 6 points. I usually shoot for the middle when it comes to maki rolls. I don’t wanna waste cards trying to be first but if I can grab second I will. It all depends on how eager people are for their maki rolls.
Wasabi	Not too much to be said about Tempura. Two cards for 5 points is good so I usually pick them up when I don’t feel like I can get better from the hand.
Tempura	This is not too different from maki rolls for me. I say if you can get the most puddings without wasting a bunch of your card choices doing it, then great. But just like the maki rolls don’t get wrapped up in a crazy pudding battle. Usually, my goal is to just not get last when it comes to puddings.
Sashimi	Going for all 3 of the sashimi can be problematic sometimes. If no one else decides to go for it or doesn’t notice you’re going for it then it could be a really nice boost in points for how little of cards it is.
Pudding	My main tip with Chopsticks is to always grab it early into the round. If you grab it in the middle or the end of the round then you usually just end up getting everyone leftovers. So just ends up being a waste.
Chopsticks	My main tip with Chopsticks is to always grab it early into the round. If you grab it in the middle or the end of the round then you usually just end up getting everyones leftovers. So just ends up being a waste.

Can you explain the scoring system in Sushi Go!?

Each round players collect sushi cards for a certain number of points. The round ends when all of the players are out of cards to collect. Three rounds total and then everyone adds their points up for a final total.

Are there any expansions or variations of Sushi Go! available?

I believe the next version of Sushi Go! is called Sushi Go Party. That is the only version or variation that i can find. I have not had the chance to play “Sushi Go Party!” yet but hopefully i get to soon. If you have Sushi Go! and want to try the party version here is a link to Amazon for the latest prices. – Sushi Go Party!

How long does a typical game of Sushi Go! last?

The typical game last around 15 minutes total. With only having 3 rounds in the base game, it all goes fairly quickly when you know how to play. If you change the rules and add more rounds to the game, it will extend the length of time. Now that i’m thinking about it, i bet it would add somewhat of a “comeback” opportunity if you added more rounds to the game, which could be fun.

Is Sushi Go! suitable for players of all ages?

I would agree with Gamewright when they suggested 8+ for starting age. I think that generally this is a good age for kids to start picking up on the skills needed to play Sushi Go! Since there is a decent amount of strategy i believe adults will also find this game to be challenging and fun to play with family.

Why is it a popular choice among card game enthusiasts?

I believe that the simplicity and also the subtle strategic complexity without being overly difficult is part of the appeal of general card game lovers. Obviously, Sushi Go! isn’t amazingly complex but just the fact of how easy the game is to learn, plus the different small strategic plays you can make to help push you ahead of the group makes it really fun. Which helps get adults involved and kids like it for how simple it is, next thing you know its the family’s favorite card game on the “GO!”

Are there any similar games to Sushi Go! that I might enjoy?

Cat Lady – Another card drafting game where you get cat cards and then try and feed them to gain points. I just recently looked into this game and it does seem similar to Sushi Go but cats! So if cats are something that your into, then i would suggest getting it. Here’s a link to Amazon so you can check out prices. CAT LADY LINK

Go Nuts For Donuts – It was made by the same people (Gamewright) who made Sushi Go. Also it has the similar scoring method. It pretty much is just the donut version of Sushi Go. I honestly could see them doing this with many different foods. Taco Go, Pizza Go, i could even see a Salad Go being a thing. Either way, if you or someone you know loves donuts and wants a great game to play. I would check it out, ill link to Amazon for the latest prices if your interested. GO NUTS FOR DONUTS LINK

Where can I purchase Sushi Go! and how much does it cost?

We purchased our copy of Sushi Go at our local Wal-Mart. So i would assume that they’re probably going to be at most board game stores. Its a fairly popular game that i know many people have mentioned to me. If you can not find it that way i suggest Amazon as a good source for most board games.

Are there any special rules or variations for two-player games of Sushi Go!?

Yes, i will start with the “Pass Both Ways” variant that the game rules suggest. How it works is by alternating which way you pass the cards each round. In round 1 and 3, pass each hand to the left. In round 2, pass each hand to the right.

2-Player Variant For Sushi Go!

The variant features a third “dummy” player that alternates between players. (Be careful not to let the “dummy” player win.)

• Deal 3 players worth of cards (3 hands of 9)
• Put the dummy player’s cards face down between you as a draw pile
• Choose one player to be the first to control the dummy player.
• When you’re in control, draw the top card from the dummy pile and add it to your hand.
• Then choose 1 card for yourself and 1 for the dummy player. (Your opponent plays 1 card as normal)
• Reveal cards and then switch hands, leaving the dummy pile in place.
• Now your opponent controls the dummy player by drawing from the pile and then choosing 1 for themself and 1 for the dummy.
• Take turns controlling the dummy pile until all cards are played out.
• Play 3 rounds as described above, scoring as per normal rules.

Is it for adults?

I get why people might ask this kind of question, it looks like a kid’s game. The playfulness of the artwork can make you wonder when you first see it on the shelf or online. But yes, even though it is an easy-to-learn to learn the game, it is for adults. I would say it’s probably liked equally between adults and kids alike.

Is it hard to play?

I asked my wife this same question as I was making this post and we both came to the conclusion that this game is not hard. It took us less than one game to get the hang of it. We taught my brother and my mom how to play and they also had a similar experience. So no I don’t think this game is hard at all. We didn’t get a chance to teach our kiddos how to play but I really think either of them would get the hang of it very quickly.

What is the pudding rule?

First, before I forget this rule of pudding if the end points of the game tie then the person with the most puddings wins. Then when it comes to the card in general. Having the most puddings at the end of the 3rd round will gain you 6 bonus points. Having the least amount of puddings will give you -6 points to your total score. Now if you and someone else are tied for the most puddings then you both split the points. One gets 3, and the other gets 3 bonus points. And the same for the least amount of puddings, -3 for one player and -3 for the other.

What is the difference between sushi go and sushi go party?

Sushi Go is the little brother of Sushi Go Party. Think more cards, more card types, and more card sets to get. The artwork is the same as the original but with new cards to look at. They even added a board or “Menu” to go around and track the points of each player. If you’re interested and think you would like Sushi Go, then I would suggest also just getting Sushi Go Party. If you are interested here’s a link to Amazon to check it out. SUSHI GO PARTY LINK

My Wife’s 2 Cents

Hello Everyone! So, my 2 cents on this game is I love it! It’s simple, and fun and I love the cute little pictures of the sushi. I do think this would be a good family game, especially when you are away on vacation and want something fun but easy to play. I also think this game could be a good way to help your little ones practice adding and subtracting while having fun playing a game.

Game	Price	My Review	Why It Made My Current Top 3 (Changes Regularly)
CATAN	Check On Amazon	Here	Catan hooks you in instantly with its resource management and empire-building. Also, I personally love the trading aspect of the game.
FIRE TOWER	Check On Amazon	Here	Clean, simple, and fun. I love the way the game was designed around such an obscure topic. Such a unique game that will make you want to have everyone play with you.
KA-BLAB	Check On Amazon	Here	Great game for brain storming and fun. I have literally passed out laughing from this game. I even wrote about it in my review of the game. Go check it out!

Thanks for taking the time to look over my review. I hope that it brought you some kind of value. God Bless.