忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō)

Shinobu no Gakkō, or Ninja School, is a 3‑to‑5‑player card game that plays in 20 to 40 minutes, ideal for those who enjoy quick, strategic challenges. Each player starts with two card hands: a closed hand you keep in your own stack, and an open hand that sits on the table. Two cards are dealt face‑down onto a central column and serve as the starting point for the climb. The core mechanic is Ladder Climbing: you can play cards that are higher or lower than the current card at each end of the column, placing them on the same side. To play, you must place at least the same number of cards that already exist on that side, but you may place more if you wish. If one side ends up with more cards than the other, that side becomes locked, preventing any addition or removal. As an alternative to playing, you can remove the last card from either end, shrinking the column. On each turn, you may perform one of these actions with both hands or simply pass. The goal is to be the first to empty your hand; when you do, you earn points, while other players lose points based on the number of cards left in their hands. The game repeats for several rounds, and the player with the highest total points at the end wins. The combination of hand management, split‑second decisions to climb or descend the ladder, and the tension of controlling the ends makes Shinobu no Gakkō a tactical duel that appeals to both casual players and veterans seeking a strategic twist.