Bannish!!

Ever played a classic trick-taking game, but wished there was a bit more chaos in the mix? Well, Bannish!! takes the traditional trick-taking genre and injects a heavy dose of unpredictability. The real twist lies in the deck composition: there are actually two copies of every single card. If two identical cards are played in the same trick, they are both 'banished' immediately, ending that trick on the spot! It turns a game of skill into a high-stakes game of psychological warfare and timing.

But don't think this is just about winning every trick. The scoring goal is where things get really interesting and slightly counter-intuitive: your aim is to finish the round with the second-highest number of points. This twist completely flips the traditional strategy on its head. Instead of playing your strongest cards to dominate, you might find yourself wanting to hold back or even strategically trigger a banishment to sabotage the leader. It's a constant balancing act between being competitive and knowing exactly when to step back to avoid the unwanted top spot.

With a light weight (2/5 on the BGG scale), it's the perfect filler for those gaps between heavier sessions or a casual game night with the crew. Since games are quick, you can easily jump into several rounds of intense rematching. If you enjoy card games that require you to read not just your hand, but also your opponents' intentions, Bannish!! will keep you hooked. It's fast, tense, and incredibly clever in how it subverts classic trick-taking tropes. Get ready to laugh when someone's perfect plan gets banished by a pair of identical cards!