Rick and Morty: Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind Deck-Building Game

In 2017, Cryptozoic released *Rick and Morty: Close Rick‑Counters of the Rick Kind*, a deck‑building game that blends the show’s madness with deck‑building strategy. Each player takes on the role of a different Rick, competing to build the most powerful deck while thwarting others from doing the same. The game starts with a basic hand of seven *Genius Waves* cards, which grant Power to use abilities, and three neutral cards—Beth, Jerry, and Summer—that don’t do anything directly but can trigger other cards when combined. The core mechanic is the *Portal Gun*, replacing the typical *Kick* stack of Cerberus. When activated, it triggers the *Portal* deck, transporting the player’s hero to a random location from the episode or iconic spots from the series. The player can then use resources from that location or pay its cost to add it to their own deck, creating unexpected synergy opportunities. Deck building follows the pure Cerberus style: buying cards, discarding, using abilities, and sometimes making *Delayed Purchase* buys, paying less later. Additionally, the *Take That* mechanism allows opponents to interact when a card is bought, generating direct confrontations and tactical decisions. Each Rick has *Variable Player Powers*, meaning unique abilities that change depending on the game phase, requiring players to adjust their strategy in real time. The result? A quick (30‑70 minute) game that mixes sharp humor, nerd references, and engaging deck‑building mechanics, perfect for fans of the show who want to test their ability to build a deck as unpredictable as the Rickiverse.

The experience is fun and accessible, but the learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with the Cerberus Engine. If you enjoy games that combine strategy and comedy, this title will make you laugh and think at the same time.