The Game – Play Together, Beat The Game 🃏🤝

Four piles, 98 cards and one opponent: the game itself – The Game is a cooperative card game for families, friends and solo players who enjoy a tense little puzzle.

In this card game for 1 to 5 players aged 8 and up, the team tries to lay all 98 number cards (2 to 99) on four piles: two counting up from 1, two counting down from 100. You may talk – but never name a number.

🔢 Up and Down Piles

On an ascending pile each card must be higher, on a descending pile lower. Small steps keep the piles alive.

✋ At Least Two Cards

On your turn, play at least two cards, then refill your hand. Once the draw pile is empty, one card is enough.

🙊 Hints, Not Numbers

"Don't play on this pile" is allowed. Saying which numbers you hold is not. Every move needs trust and good timing.

🔄 The Backwards Trick

A card exactly 10 lower on an ascending pile – or 10 higher on a descending one – turns the pile back and can save the team.

🏆 Spiel des Jahres Nominee

The Game was nominated for Germany's Spiel des Jahres 2015. Find more games like it among our card games.

Why You'll Love The Game:

• 🤝 Win or Lose Together: the whole team plays against the deck.
• 👤 Solo Mode: play alone with a hand of 8 cards.
• 📈 Expert Mode: beat it once, then play at least three cards per turn.

Quick facts

• Players: 1–5
• Playing time: about 20 minutes
• Age: 8+
• Designer: Steffen Benndorf
• Publisher: NSV (original publisher)
• Edition / language: Adria Edition – rules in Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian and Albanian; International Edition – rules in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Czech and Greek
• Language needed to play: None – number cards only
• Award: nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2015

Can you play The Game alone? Yes – the rules include a 1-player game.
What is a good result? The rules call fewer than 10 cards left an excellent result; play all 98 and you have beaten The Game.

"Don't make a big jump on this pile…" Gather your team, keep the numbers to yourselves and try to beat The Game together. 🃏