Game Objective

Welcome to the delicious world of Sushi Go Party!, where the competition is as flavorful as a good nigiri! Prepare for a luxurious à la carte dinner, but with a twist: you'll be both the chef and the customer! The objective is simple yet addictive: over three rounds, you will choose the best combinations of sushi cards to create the highest-scoring menu at the table. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the game, after savoring all the desserts, will be crowned the grand sushi master!

Setup

Let's set the table for this card banquet! Follow these steps to get everything ready:

1. Place the board in the center of the table. It will serve as your score tracker and menu.
2. Each player chooses a color and places their corresponding pawn on the "0" space of the board.
3. For the first game, separate the cards by type and organize them in the box's compartments. This makes choosing the menu easier.
4. Together, decide which cards will be part of the game's menu. You can choose one of the pre-defined menus (My First Meal, Sushi Go!, Party Platter, Master Menu) or create your own! Remember the rules for creating your own menu:
   • Nigiri is mandatory in all games.
   • Choose 1 type of rolls.
   • Choose 3 types of appetizers.
   • Choose 2 types of specials.
   • Choose 1 type of dessert.

   Important: Menus and Special Orders are not used in 7-8 player games. Spoon and Edamame are not used in 2-player games.

5. Find the Menu markers that correspond to the chosen cards and place them in the appropriate spaces on the board. They serve to show everyone the cards in play and their functions. If playing with Maki Rolls in a 6 to 8 player game, flip the marker to show the correct scoring.
6. Shuffle the chosen dessert cards and form a face-down pile next to the board.
7. Take all other cards (Nigiri, Rolls, Appetizers, Specials) and shuffle them together to form the main deck, which also goes face-down next to the board.

The Game Turn

A game of Sushi Go Party! is divided into three rounds, and each round is a sequence of simultaneous turns. Get ready for action!

Starting a Round

Before each round, let's season the deck with some desserts:

• Shuffle a group of Dessert cards from the separate pile into the main deck, according to the number of players and the round:
  • Round 1: 5 dessert cards (2-5 players) / 7 dessert cards (6-8 players)
  • Round 2: 3 dessert cards (2-5 players) / 5 dessert cards (6-8 players)
  • Round 3: 2 dessert cards (2-5 players) / 3 dessert cards (6-8 players)
• Then, each player receives a number of face-down cards, depending on the number of participants:
  • 2-3 players: 10 cards
  • 4-5 players: 9 cards
  • 6-7 players: 8 cards
  • 8 players: 7 cards
• Keep the remaining cards in a face-down deck next to the board.
• Take your cards into your hand, keeping them secret from other players.
• The game now begins!

Playing a Turn

Turns in Sushi Go Party! are fast and simultaneous:

1. Choose Your Card: Each player secretly chooses one card from their hand that they wish to keep and places it face-down in front of them.
2. Simultaneous Reveal: When all players have finished their choices, everyone reveals their chosen cards by turning them face-up.
3. Bonus Actions (if applicable): Some special cards, like Chopsticks and Spoon, allow bonus actions. If you want to use one of these cards, announce its name ("Chopsticks!" or "Spoon!") at the time of revelation. Bonus actions happen before cards are passed. If multiple bonus actions or cards like Menu or Takeout Box are used in the same turn, the order is determined by the small number in the bottom right corner of the card (the lowest number acts first).
4. Pass the Cards: After revealing cards and resolving any bonus actions, pass your remaining cards (face-down) to the player on your left. Thus, each hand of cards moves clockwise around the table.
5. Next Turn: Take your new hand of cards and the next turn begins. You will have fewer cards to choose from each turn, making the decision more difficult!

Note: The cards you play (face-up) remain with you until the end of the round, when you score your points. As you accumulate cards, group them into columns of the same color for easier organization.

Special Action Cards

Most cards score at the end of the round, but some have special effects that can change the game:

• Uramaki: Scores immediately upon reaching 10 icons.
• Miso Soup: Scores if it's the only one played in the turn.
• Wasabi: Triples the score of the next Nigiri played on it.
• Menu: Allows you to draw and play a card from the deck.
• Special Order: Copies any other card you have already played.
• Takeout Box: Allows you to flip played cards to score 2 points each.
• Chopsticks: Allow you to take 2 cards in a future turn. When used, you play a second card from your hand and return the Chopsticks to your hand before passing it.
• Spoon: Allows you to take a card from another player's hand in a future turn. When used, you announce the desired card, and the first player to your left who possesses it must give it to you. You play the card immediately and give the Spoon to the player who gave you the card.

Extra Rules for Chopsticks, Spoon, or Menu:

• If you play a Nigiri and already have a Wasabi without a Nigiri, you must play the Nigiri on the Wasabi.
• If you copy a Miso Soup and another Miso Soup is played in the same turn, all are discarded.
• If an Uramaki (or a copy of it) gives you 10 or more icons, you score immediately.

Ending a Round

When all cards have been played and everyone's hands are empty, the round ends:

1. First, separate all the Dessert cards you played. They stay with you until the end of the game for scoring (the strawberry icon in the left corner serves as a reminder!).
2. Then, score all other cards you played in the round. Each card type scores differently (see the "Card Guide" in the manual for specific details on each).
3. Move your pawn on the score track of the board to record your points for the round.
4. All cards (except Desserts) are collected and re-shuffled. Remember to add the new set of Desserts for the next round, according to the "Starting a Round" table.
5. A new round begins, played exactly like the previous one.

End of Game and Scoring

The banquet comes to an end after 3 rounds. It's time to count the final points and crown the sushi master!

1. In addition to the conventional scoring of the three rounds, now it's time for the Desserts! Score your Dessert cards according to their specific rules:
   • Green Tea Ice Cream: If you have 4 cards, you score 12 points. Less than that, 0 points.
   • Pudding: The player with the most Puddings gains 6 points. The player with the fewest Puddings (including 0) loses 6 points. In 2-player games, the player with the fewest does not lose points.
   • Fruit: Sum the icons of each fruit type (Watermelon, Orange, Pineapple) and score according to the table in the Card Guide.
2. The one with the highest total score will be the winner!
3. In case of a tie, the player with the most Dessert cards wins.

Tips for Winning

Want to be the highest-scoring chef at the table? Pay attention to these tips:

1. Focus on Sets: Many cards, like Dumpling, Sashimi, and Tempura, score more in sets. Try to collect as many of these cards as possible to maximize your points. Keep an eye on what your opponents are collecting to decide if it's worth competing or focusing on another type of sushi.
2. Strategy with Wasabi and Nigiri: Wasabi is a powerful point multiplier for Nigiri. Whenever possible, play a Wasabi before a high-value Nigiri (like the 3-point Squid Nigiri) to turn it into a spectacular 9 points! But be careful: a Wasabi without a Nigiri is worth nothing.
3. Take Advantage of Bonus Actions: Cards like Chopsticks and Spoon are valuable strategic tools. Use Chopsticks to take two cards in a crucial turn, or Spoon to steal that card your opponent desperately needs. Timing is everything for these cards!