Bandit

Bandit is a fast-paced and addictive card game that blends memory, bluffing, and quick reflexes. Players try to outwit their opponents and lower their score by uncovering, swapping, or discarding cards—sometimes their own, sometimes their rivals’. The twist? You only know two of your four hidden cards, and the rest of the game is about manipulating the unknown. Each player starts with a 2x2 grid of face-down cards and a vague idea of their own score. On your turn, you can draw a card from the deck or the discard pile, then either use its power, swap it with one of your hidden cards, or discard it. Powers range from peeking at a card to swapping full hands or messing up your opponent’s layout. The goal is simple: have the lowest total score at the end of the round. At any moment, if you have a matching card in value with the top discard, you can slam it down as an immediate discard. Be the fastest, and you’ll get rid of a card. Fail, and you’ll pay the price—penalty cards add to your total! When a player thinks they have the lowest score, they declare “Bandit!” and trigger the final round. But timing is everything—call too early, and a +10 point penalty awaits. Call it right, and you earn –10 points. The game ends when someone reaches 100 points, and the player with the lowest total wins. —description from the publisher