Tabletop Talks Week 15

Card games may be a tabletop classic, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get a little...familiar...from time to time. Don’t get us wrong, we love a reliable game of Go Fish or Gin, but sometimes, we want a card game that's a little more out of the box and exciting. This is why having new and inventive card games are perfect. So, this week, Tabletop Simulator Blog will be bringing you four up-and-coming card games, one party game, one strategy, one trick-taking, and one reflex, that are sure to spice up your next card night!

1. Foibles: Try A Fresh Take On The Classic Party Card Game

Judge a book by its cover!

The party card game is a classic go-to for family gatherings and college dorm rooms alike. It’s a guaranteed way to get everyone laughing in no time! So, if you are looking for your next game night staple, look no further than Foibles! In this truly original card game, players are faced with an absurd scenario and are given a set of random traits. Each player must then defend their foibles so that they are not voted out. If you have ever wanted to defend the value of a broadway performer in a zombie apocalypse, this is the game for you! If you have ever wanted to discuss how valuable the skillset of a clown in a natural disaster is, you will finally have the chance! With Foibles’ easy-to-learn and very replayable premise, you and your friends are guaranteed countless side-splitting game nights!

Foibles was created to be a thought-provoking but also hilarious gaming experience. The team behind Foibles succeeded on both counts and created a game that's perfect as both an icebreaker or game night closer! And, with a compact design, you don’t ever have to be without the perfect party card game. It's time to judge some books by their covers!

The team behind Foibles has used Tabletop Simulator to work around the complications of the last year to create their groundbreaking and sidesplitting card game. Be sure to check out their mod here! Also, be sure to check out their website for updates on their upcoming Kickstarter and order information!

2. Reincardnated: Take On A Uniquely Themed Strategy Card Game

A quest for humanity!

Were you a dog in your past life? How about a cat? A parrot? Trying to imagine what you were before you...were you, is a great personality question, a fun way to kill a little time at work, and now, it's a card game! Reincardnated, from Doolittle Gaming, is a 2-6 player strategy card game where players compete by building lifelines filled with unique beings (plants & animals), gaining karma (used to impact themselves and other players), and fulfilling their unique secret life purpose! In this reincarnation-inspired card game, players explore the question of past lives through a fun mix of card flipping and arrangement mechanics as well as a unique Hidden Victory Point system.  Only through smart strategy, self-reflection, and a little bit of luck can you complete your lifeline, become human, fulfill your life purpose, and, most importantly, beat your friends to the spiritual finish line!

The team at Doolittle gaming started with the simple question: What if there were a tabletop game that let you live multiple lives? They took that main concept and combined it with multiple builds, a lot of hard work, brilliant design choices, and maybe even a little good karma to create Reincarnated. This is all paired with beautiful artwork to really give your quest for humanity a little color!

The creators of Reincardnated used TTS to perfect their karmic card game through playtests, demos, and player feedback. You can now check out their beautifully made Mod here! Reincarnated has also wrapped up its successful Kickstarter and is now available for pre-order on their website!

3. Bar Fight: Try A New Take On Trick-Taking

The Bartender’s card game!

Do you fancy yourself a mixologist? Is your shaker already in your hand before someone asks the question, “anyone want drinks?” Are you a fan of the classic 1980’s film Cocktail? If you answered yes to any of these questions and are looking for a one-of-a-kind card game, you need to play Bar Fight from Bacchanal games! In this bartending, card laying, and “trick-taking” game, players take on the role of an aspiring mixologist in the prestigious Bar Fight International Bartending Competition. To come out on top, your drinks must be creative, beautiful, and most of all, delicious. Create strategic signature drinks, by taking turns combining Spirit, Mixer, and Flair cards in order to impress the specific Judge for the round. Judge cards are revealed in advance, so players must be sure to both impress the current Judge and plan ahead for future rounds, adding an additional layer of strategy to this competition. The highest scoring drink of the round wins that round's Judge Card and Prize Ribbons. The first player to get enough Ribbons wins the title of Bar Fight Champion!

Bar Fight was created as a gateway game for those who might be intimidated by complex tabletop entries. The team at Bacchanal games succeeded in creating a game that is user-friendly, but also deeply strategic. It’s the ultimate “easy to learn, but impossible to master” card game!

The team behind Bar Fight used Tabletop Simulator in both their playtesting and design processes to create one of the best crafted and uniquely themed card games we’ve ever seen! Be sure to play their mod and check out their Kickstarter for information on the game’s release as well as how to pledge!

4. Outrun: Get Ready For A One Of A Kind Competitive-Reflex Card Game

Don’t come in last place!

Even though Spooky Season is a little ways down the road, we thought it would be a perfect time to serve up some monstrous board game inspirations for this year's Halloween. So, let's talk about Outrun from Good Looking Richard Games! In this competitive-reflex card game, you and your fellow players are at a fancy dress party at the Monster Movie Museum when a freak lightning storm makes one of the movie monsters come to life! It’s chasing you! You can’t outrun the monster, but you can outrun your friends! Using a truly unique combination of card laying mechanics and opponent-interference strategies, you must run the fastest and play the smartest if you want to make it out alive! And with four different game-impacting monsters, Outrun is as replayable as it is scary!

The simple, exciting, and funny premise of Outrun was inspired by the old saying “You don’t have to run faster than the bear to getaway. You just have to run faster than the guy next to you.” The team at Good Looking Richard Games took that concept, and after a few experiments, landed on the core concepts of their one-of-a-kind card game and turned it into a spooky masterpiece. And with its east-to-learn-hard-to-master strategy, Outrun is the perfect game night addition for players of all ages. To top it all off, Outrun has a fun and just-the-right-amount of scary art style that gives color and depth to this great game!

The team behind Outrun has used Tabletop Simulator to collaborate over long distances and create a one-of-a-kind Halloween game (it's so fun we wouldn’t blame you for paying all year round)! You can take a look at their Mod here! Also, be sure to follow their Social Media and check out their website for news on all things Outrun!

What are your favorite card games? Which of these games have you gotten to play? Let us know in the comments below!