What Is a "Trick-Taking Game"?

A trick-taking game is a competitive card game where players take turns playing cards from their hands.

Well-known classics using standard playing cards include Spades, Hearts, and Napoleon. More recently, titles like The Crew, Cat in the Box, and The Fox in the Forest have gained popularity. Trick-taking remains a staple genre in tabletop gaming, with new titles still being released regularly.

The unique rules may feel a bit hard to get into at first, but once you learn the basics, you'll discover a simple yet deeply strategic experience.

Worried About Learning the Rules?

In addition to tutorials, this game categorizes its games by rule difficulty: "Casual," "Strategic," and "Expert." The progressive structure lets you gradually get comfortable with trick-taking.

What Is Trick-Taking Rogue?

Trick-Taking Rogue is a game built on the mechanics of trick-taking, with roguelike elements layered on top.

Many trick-taking games are designed for multiplayer, but this title is tailored for single-player, enhancing replayability with skills and shops.

Roguelite elements are also included—new skills unlock progressively as you clear each of the included games.

Included Games

In addition to the roguelike mode, Trick-Taking Rogue includes the following 9 trick-taking games:

• Whist (A simple, ultra-classic trick-taking game played for centuries)

• Sueca (A trick-taking game that adds card points to Whist)

• Briscola (A trick-taking game with 3-card hands and no obligation to follow suit)

• Oh Hell (A bidding game where you predict how many tricks you'll take)

• Schnapsen (A highly strategic two-player game)

• Tute Gana Pierde (A game where every trick forces a decision: take it or leave it)

• Spades (Probably the most well-known trick-taking game in this collection)

• Belote (A strategic game where you bid for the trump suit)

• Trick Poker (An original game where you play trick-taking while building poker hands)

Recommended For

• Fans of trick-taking games.

• Mahjong enthusiasts. Trick-taking has a feel similar to "Mahjong with the complexity stripped away, focused purely on reading your opponents."

• Roguelike fans. "Trick-taking × roguelike" is a rare combination, so it may offer a fresh experience.

• Board game fans who haven't tried trick-taking. Traditional trick-taking may seem understated compared to modern board games, but you might be surprised by its depth. We especially recommend Schnapsen for board gamers—its "closing the stock" mechanic is a strategic element akin to declaring Riichi in Mahjong, and it's genuinely compelling. It's a great two-player tabletop game in its own right, even apart from this title.

• Poker fans. This title includes Trick Poker, an original trick-taking game with poker elements.

• Regular players of traditional trick-taking games. While trick-taking is available as free browser games and mobile apps, Trick-Taking Rogue is focused on tempo. We've put special emphasis on "ultra-fast, stress-free gameplay," so please give it a try.

• Fans of solitaire-style games. Trick-taking games are traditionally multiplayer, but this title focuses on computer opponents, so you can enjoy it as a form of solitaire.

Please Note

• There is no deck-building element. As a roguelike, it's closer to inventory-management-focused roguelikes like the original Rogue.

• There is no story element. There's no narrative or atmospheric content—it's simply a card game with roguelike elements added. Please keep that in mind.