Naishi Game Review

Honor in Victory, Shame in Defeat

In a tumultuous year of tariff uncertainty, the focus has shifted to small card games thanks to their lower printing costs and quicker turnaround. As always, I’m on the hunt for small, quick two-player games I can enjoy with my wife that aren’t dueling titles or TCGs. Cue up Naishi, a quaint little box featuring gorgeous feudal-style art from Marine Losekoot and designed by French creators Mathieu Bieri and Alex Fortineau.

Walking by, the game looks unassuming: just rows of cards, a deck, and a small sideboard. The minimalist design doesn’t scream for attention, but the subtle pops of color in the artwork certainly do. Thematically, players are working to optimize their feudal state through a delightful dance of card cycling and positioning akin to Boreal, Elawa, and Odin.

After my first play with fellow Mountaineer Justin Bell, I was surprised to learn the game is also available on Board Game Arena—further fueling the question of whether we should even bother buying physical games anymore.

The Way of the Cards

Players aim to build the highest-scoring ten-card tableau, all while managing hidden information. Each player has a visible “line” of five cards and a hidden line in hand. Between…

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