A play review of the luck-testing card game 'Flip 7' that forces you to make decisions based on luck and courage
The Japanese version of ' Flip 7 ', which was nominated for the Grand Prize at the 2025
Game Introduction: Flip 7 | Engames
https://note.com/engames/n/nf306cef222b6
The 'Flip 7' package looks like this.
The game is intended for ages 8 and up, with a minimum of 3 players and a play time of 20 minutes.
The contents are just the cards and a rules manual.
There are three types of cards: number cards, bonus cards, score cards, and action cards. The number cards are as follows, and have numbers from 0 to 12 written on them. The number of number cards is the same as the 'number written on it.' In other words, there are 12 cards with the number 12, 8 cards with the number 8, and 1 card with the number 1. There is also only one 0 card.
The top row below is the score cards, with one of each of six types. The bottom row is the action cards, with three of each of three types.
To prepare to play, simply shuffle all the cards and create a deck.
One player is chosen to be the dealer for the first round. The dealer receives the deck they created. Now you're ready to go.
The rules are very simple: the sum of the numbers written on the cards dealt by the dealer is the score, and the first player to reach 200 points wins. The dealer gives each player, starting with themselves and going clockwise, two choices: 'One more' or 'Stop.'
The player who declared 'One More' receives a card from the dealer and places it face up in front of them.
The number cards you receive are arranged in a row. The total of the number cards is the score you can earn in that round.
However, if you draw a card with the same number as a card you previously received, you will 'bust' and be eliminated from that round. Furthermore, your score for that round will become 0.
For example, there are 12 cards with the number 12, so it is the most likely to be drawn among the number cards and is therefore the easiest to bust. Therefore, instead of declaring 'One More' on their turn, players can choose to 'Stop.' Declaring 'Stop' means they will leave the round, but the total value of the number cards they have collected up to that point will be their score.
When you bust or declare a stop, turn all of your cards face down to indicate that you are out of the round.
Once everyone has completed their actions for the round, the round ends.
At the end of the round, all players who have not burst will calculate the total value of their cards. The points earned in each round are important, so it is recommended that you record them on your smartphone or notepad while playing.
Also, if you draw seven different number cards, you get a 'Flip 7' hand. When this Flip 7 is made, the round ends immediately and all players who haven't busted receive points. In addition, the player who achieves the Flip 7 gets an additional 15 points. For example, in the following case, the total value of the number cards is 12 + 9 + 11 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 5 = 52 points. With the additional 15 points, the total points for the round are 67 points.
Although the score cards are not number cards, the total value written on the number cards can be added to your score.
When the round is over, all cards are discarded. Then the dealer moves to the player on the left and deals the cards again in the same way. This is repeated many times, and the player who has a total score of over 200 points at the end of the round wins.
Because it's so simple, luck and strategy are extremely important. Action cards are what create strategy. 'Second Chance' is a card that protects you from a burst, but only once.
Below is a case where two number 8 cards overlap, which would normally cause a burst.
However, if you have a second chance card, you can discard the second chance card and the second 8 number card you drew together to prevent the burst.
'Freeze' is an offensive action card that allows you to force any player, including yourself, to stop acting and remove them from the round.
However, even if you use 'Freeze' to leave the round, the number cards in your hand will still count as points. For this reason, it is recommended to use Freeze on players who are not earning many points. Below is an example of 'Freeze' being used on the player who first drew the 'Second Chance' card. 'Second Chance' can make a burst disappear, but if it is the target of 'Freeze', its effect is not activated, so the card is simply discarded.
And the yellow action card 'Flip Three'
'Flip Three' is an action card that forces any player, including yourself, to draw three cards.
You can aim to make your opponent bust by drawing three cards. However, depending on your opponent's luck, there is a good chance that your score will be significantly increased.
In this way, you will earn points by repeating rounds.
Some players call stop early to avoid busting and earn small points, while others don't fear busting and keep calling one more and laying out cards in the hopes of flipping a seven to score big. Since the number of number cards is known and all players have seen the number cards that have been dealt so far, it's important to predict the odds by
In the end, a player who had already accumulated nearly 190 points called a stop with just two cards, reaching over 200 points. As this was the highest score at the end of the round, he was crowned the winner.
Flip 7 has very simple rules, making it easy for anyone to play. As long as you can do the minimum calculations, even elementary school students can play alongside adults. The game is based on a chicken race, where you keep drawing number cards to avoid overlapping, and the use of action cards creates a strategic element. However, the balance between luck and strategy leans heavily toward luck, so it's not a game where you 'think carefully about the future and decide your next move.' Some editorial staff who played the game commented, 'Once the score difference is established, there are few ways to reverse the situation, and it can be quite difficult to overturn luck with strategy,' and 'It's a simple and rough game, but there's some strange tactics involved, so I think it's quite suitable for a death game.'
The Japanese version of 'Flip 7' was available for purchase at Amazon.co.jp for 2,750 yen including tax.
Amazon | Flip 7 Japanese Edition [Board Game] [Engames] | Board Games | Toys
You can also get the 'Flip 7' from the gift article below.
GIGAZINE Winter gift release project 'Answer the questionnaire and take them all!' - GIGAZINE
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