Japanese gem

We have something special for today! 😁 

🐈 Cat Chi Cat! This was released at UKGE'25 with only 100 copies available, and it had the ideal qualities we are looking for at conventions: a tiny form factor (basically just 17 cards), 2-player trick-taking and a cat theme. We just had to grab a copy! 😅 

In the game you are vying for the favor of the fickle Chi Cat. 😼 You want to draw him to your side completely, or have him on your side when your hand of cards run out to earn points. 

The base of it all is basic trick-taking: 🧐 There are 3 suits with values from 1-5, plus a joker with value 3. The rules are also all mostly what you would expect, but there is one brilliant twist that elevates Cat Chi Cat! ☝️ Normally Chi Cat moves towards whoever wins the trick, but whenever two odd-valued cards are played, then Chi Cat’s mood changes and he favors the loser instead. A simple change but it has a great effect. 

It’s also a bit hard to wrap your head around this at first, especially as the mood stays like that, changing the rules until the next 2 odd cards are played. 🤯 Of course sometimes your hand will be forced as you have to follow suit every time, so the game has the usual issue I tend to have with trick takers: I often feel like your dealt hand of cards seals your fate. 

In summary Cat Chi Cat is a pretty barebones trick-taker, but I guess this simplicity is part of the charm. I’m certainly happy we got a copy, as this is the perfect souvenir type game you can get at conventions. 😄 The art of the game adds the cherry on top: It looks truly horrible, just like many Japanese games tend to. So it’s kind of so bad it gets good again. Maybe. 😂