"Why do we make eating sushi an activity? 'We are going out for sushi!' Well, good luck. I hope you catch some. No one really cares." ~Jim Gaffigan

Today we're looking at a cute card-drafting game for the whole family from Gamewright, called Sushi Go!

Sushi Go comes with 108 cards, each with a cute picture of anthropomorphic Tempura, Dumplings, Wasabi, and other sushi-associated foods.

Firestone--The cards are a fine quality, but the entire game consists of drafting these cards, so they're handled constantly. I sleeved my cards, and I suggest you pay a few bucks extra and sleeve them, too.

Jeremiah--Yes they do get used quite a bit. I haven't sleeved mine yet, but it's not a bad idea. The game also comes in a nice durable tin container, so it travels well!

The game is simple: You start with a hand of cards--the number of which depends on the number of players--and you start drafting.

Now, if you don't know what drafting means, it's simply choosing a card from a hand, and then passing the remaining cards to the next person around the table. There are all kinds of different types and styles and methods of drafting. Sushi Go's draft is basic: one-card, one-direction, until they're gone.

Firestone--There are other drafting games out there, such as the popular 7 Wonders. But for me there's always been something missing from it. Maybe fun? I dunno, but it always falls flat for me. Where 7 Wonders, and all of the expansions, are bloated and needlessly complex (IMO), Sushi Go is stripped down, simple, and fun. I would rather play three games of Sushi Go than one game of 7 Wonders.

Jeremiah--You and your dislike of 7 Wonders... Anyway, Sushi Go is definitely a stripped down drafting game; it's really good for teaching non-gamers what the drafting genre is all about, and doesn't require a long time investment--either in learning and playing. I'm a fan of 7 Wonders--a drafting game with much more depth than a filler. And RARRR! from Ape Games fits somewhere in between 7 Wonders and Sushi Go, and they all have a place in my collection!

You're collecting sets of sushi, and each type gives you points. Some give you points for having the most of that type. Some only give you points if you manage to get three of them. Some give you straight points, but those points can be increased if you manage to get some Wasabi. And chopsticks let you take two cards in a later round.

All of the cards say exactly how they score right on them, so you aren't constantly consulting a chart or having to remember what each one does.

Once you've drafted all of the cards from your hands, you'll record the scores, discard the cards, and deal out a new hand. (You'll keep any Pudding cards, as those are only scored at the end. They're dessert!)

You play three rounds, add up the scores, and you're done! A game takes around 20 minutes.

Firestone--I've played this with my game group, and they like it as a clever, fast filler. But my family loves this game. My kids love the fun theme and the gameplay--and I've played this with my 6-year-old, who does just fine with it. My wife loves that it's a "cute" game and that it plays quickly. And I love that I'm introducing my kids to drafting in a fun way and in a fun game.

Jeremiah--This one hangs in the balance a little for me. It's enjoyable with a gaming group because they can fully dive into the strategy and keep track of the cards they've seen, etc., but it is on the very light side. On the other hand my 6-year-old LOVES to collect pudding cards the entire game. He did that the first handful of games we played, and then wondered why he got boat-raced. He's definitely come around and we all enjoy it, and my wife loved how easy it was to teach/learn!

Firestone's Final Verdict--There's not a lot to say. Sushi Go is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-play game that I've already gifted to people. It's one of my go-to games for family, holidays, nongamers--everyone! Go get Sushi Go!

Jeremiah Final Verdict--I agree, Sushi Go is great because it packs a lot of fun in a very sleek, streamlined game. Use it to teach non-gamers about drafting, as a filler, and especially for family night! Whatever the setting, you can't go wrong!

Thanks to Gamewright for providing a review copy of Sushi Go. This in no way affected our opinions on the game.

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