とらかるきつね (Torakaru Kitsune)

Torakaru Kitsune is the 2023 re‑release of the classic "Fox Borrows a Trick" by Ginga Kikaku. The game puts you in the shoes of a forest animal vying for the tastiest fruits, but it’s not just luck – deduction strategy and card management are key. Each player starts with a hand of animal cards, each with a number indicating its strength and a special effect that can only be used when the card is revealed. The game runs in counting cycles: everyone counts numbers from one, and when your card’s number is called you reveal it. If your animal is the strongest in the round, it claims the fruit with the lowest point value on the field. As the game progresses, fruit points increase, so the pressure to win rises – but that also opens the door for comebacks if you can read your opponents’ hands. The pace is quick, with 10‑20 minute games that demand constant focus and a keen eye for combos. The special effects – from mind‑control to brute force or stealth – add tactical layers, making each card reveal an exciting play. While the card text is in Japanese, the game can be played with a translated spreadsheet or Portuguese cards, making it accessible to non‑Japanese speakers. In short, Torakaru Kitsune is a quick‑play card game that blends trick‑taking excitement with deep hand‑management, ideal for fans of fast, strategic challenges in a forest animal setting.