The Game: Face to Face (2017) Board Game

The Game: Face to Face is a two-player card game that was released in in 2017. It is a spin-off of the popular cooperative card game, The Game, which was designed by Steffen Benndorf and Reinhard Staupe. The Game: Face to Face is published by Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag and is designed for players aged 8 and above.

Game Components of The Game: Face to Face

2 row cards for each player (one ascending from 1 to 60, one descending from 60 to 1)

Decks of numbered cards ranging from 2 to 59 for each player

How To Setup The Game: Face to Face

To set up the game, each player places their two row cards in front of them. The remaining cards are shuffled to form a deck, and each player draws six cards from the deck to form their opening hands. After choosing a start player, the game begins.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first player to play out your entire deck of cards or prevent your opponent from making any legal card placements.

Card Placement: Players must play at least two cards from their hand per turn. Cards played to their own stacks must follow the ascending or descending order.

Opponent’s Stacks: Players can play one card per turn to their opponent’s stacks, but it must benefit the opponent by rewinding one of their stacks.

Drawing Cards: Playing cards to your own stacks allows you to draw two new cards, while playing to your opponent’s stacks lets you draw back up to your maximum hand size of six cards.

Backwards Trick: Playing a card exactly 10 away from the top card on the stack can reverse the direction of the stack.

Player Experience

Playing **The Game: Face to Face** is an exercise in strategy and risk management. Initially, players have a wide range of options, but as the game progresses and stacks grow closer to their limits, decisions become increasingly critical. The ability to play cards to the opponent’s stacks, while beneficial to them, can also be a strategic move to keep more options available for yourself.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game requires careful planning and strategic thinking.

Quick Gameplay: Games typically last around 20 minutes.

Simple Rules: Easy to learn but challenging to master.

Interactive: Players can influence each other’s game state directly.

Cons

Limited Player Count: Designed only for two players.

High Dependence on Strategy: Can be frustrating if players make suboptimal moves.

Limited Replayability: While strategic, the game’s structure can become repetitive.

Personal Thoughts on The Game: Face to Face

**The Game: Face to Face** is ideal for those who enjoy strategic card games and are looking for a challenging yet quick experience. It is suitable for players aged 8 and above and is a great addition to any collection for those who appreciate games that balance simplicity with depth. However, it may not be the best choice for those seeking games with more variable setups or larger player counts.

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