Game Tips for Sushi Go! (Second Edition)

8

Artem Safarov {Avid Gamer}

Jan 23rd, 2015| Tip

40 of 41 gamers found this helpful

“Keeping order”

As in any card drafting games there can be situations where order of the card exchanges gets screwed up – someone misses a turn, someone gets over-excited and goes twice, you name it.

We use a simple check against it – nobody looks at the new hand of cards that was passed to them until everyone simultaneously reveals the card they played. This allows us to make sure no one gets over-excited or lags behind.

2

GallivantingGal {Avid Gamer}

Jan 28th, 2016| Tip

21 of 21 gamers found this helpful

“Add more players!”

Have more than 5 players who want to play? After each round shuffle all of the cards except for the puddings back into the deck and deal again. This may frustrate card counters but works well for casual play.

6

Game Ninja {Avid Gamer}

Jan 19th, 2015| Strategy

36 of 37 gamers found this helpful

“Don't hoard the pudding!”

Getting the most pudding does give a whopping 6 points at the end but you do not need to get all the pudding cards. Staying one ahead of your opponents is all that is needed. I’ve seen several people lose out on completing sets by hoarding the puddings!

6

Freyja {Casual Gamer}

Jul 22nd, 2015| Tip

20 of 20 gamers found this helpful

“Chopsticks Use”

It is easy to concentrate on getting two tempura, finishing your sashimi trio, or competing in the maki race with your chopsticks; but I find using your chopsticks to get one card for a set and one card with some solid point scoring nigiri is usually a safe bet.

5

Katte {Avid Gamer}

Dec 16th, 2014| Tip

34 of 35 gamers found this helpful

“Sashimi Rules”

Some like dumplings, some like tempura, but for me Sashimi is the best. If I am dealt this in my starting hand, I often play it even over the option of chopsticks. Chopsticks are obviously very helpful but if the card you want doesn’t make it back to you as hands are passed around then you may not reach your points for collecting all 3 Sashimi. Since it awards a whopping 10 points for each set, you can really stay in the game if you can manage to put this together. I can usually manage this in at least 2 of the 3 rounds which often secures a win (assuming you don’t lose points for lack of pudding, etc.).

7

provincialguardian {Casual Gamer}

Jan 23rd, 2015| Strategy

33 of 34 gamers found this helpful

“Avoid Sashemi and Tempura in the first round.”

While Sashimi is great for 10 points and to a lesser degree with Tempura at 5, it requires set collection that may not be available. During your first round you should be concentrating on Chopsticks, Dumplings, or Nigiri as the Nigiri and Dumplings can afford you quick and instant points on their own. The chopsticks will allow you to double up in later rounds when you know what cards are circulating. By looking around at other player tableaus it will give you an idea of whether others may be seeking those higher priced items that you may have to compete with.

7

cody.raak {Casual Gamer}

Jun 12th, 2015| Strategy

19 of 19 gamers found this helpful

“Nigiri: A Central Part of This Balanced Meal”

If a game of Sushi Go! is a three-course meal at a conveyer-style sushi bar, then the yellow Nigiri cards in your hand could form the backbone of the meal. Most of us think of the seaweed-wrapped Maki rolls when we hear “sushi,” but Nigiri – a pressed bed of rice topped with fish or egg – form a substantial core of sushi.

I prefer to play my yellow Nigiri cards – with and without the wasabi card for triple points – early and often. Squid nigiri especially offer reliable, substantial points, as opposed to the other sets that require multiples or majorities to accumulate the same amount of points.

Branch out from your predictable, safe orders of Maki rolls, and try the Nigiri!

5

lampeter {Family Gamer}

Oct 7th, 2015| Tip

21 of 22 gamers found this helpful

“Card holders for young players”

Using card holders, either purchased or homemade, for each hand of cards makes passing the hands much more enjoyable for young kids.

7

cody.raak {Casual Gamer}

Jun 12th, 2015| Rule

20 of 21 gamers found this helpful

“Disappointed with your order? Swap!”

As my wife and I often play this with another couple or two, we often treat each round of Sushi Go! as if it were a course at a sushi restaurant. If you order a roll that’s not quite as tasty, or is particularly delicious, you share it!

Usually everyone has played a card in a set that they weren’t able to complete for points. In order to make the “dining” experience more enjoyable and less competitive, we’ve introduced a trade phase after each round before scoring to help as many as possible to avoid wasted cards in front of them.

Example: My wife might have an extra tempura card that is not earning her the 5 points she expected it to; and I might have a Maki card that I can’t use to gain points because I don’t have the most or second most Maki symbols at the table. I trade her my Maki card to boost her to most Maki symbols, and an extra 6 points, for her tempura card, which when added to my solitary tempura card, gives me an added 5. This is a trade we’re likely to make before scoring the round, because it’s a pretty even increase for both of us, and reduces wasted cards.

This is not a house rule for power gamers or strategy gamers, but for family/casual gamers trying to keep a light game more fun and immersive, this trading round helps each player feel more satisfied with the overall experience, and more fulfilled at the end of each round. Try it out!

1

King Korbinapalus {Avid Gamer}

Jul 5th, 2016| Rule

5 of 5 gamers found this helpful

“2-Player Variant / Chopsticks Variant”

TWO-PLAYER VARIANT – The rules state that for 2-Player games, you play three rounds of 10 cards each. However, we’ve gotten to the point that we like to play the whole deck (we’re getting better at tracking the individual cards), so we play 4 rounds with 10 cards, the 5th round is a “Lightning Round” of only 4 cards, and then the final round is 10 cards again. That Lightning Round goes quick, you have to make a decision immediately about what you’re going after, and often is a “catch-up” for someone who is behind.

CHOPSTICKS VARIANT – we sometimes play where Chopsticks can be played to play two cards from your hand OR to steal 1 card that your opponent has already played. The Chopsticks analogy still works, and we’ve had some exciting outcomes from this. Even though we play it as an only-1-card-take from the opponent, often this can complete a 3 card sashimi set – very satisfying!

4

Dr. Cheesesteak {Casual Gamer}

May 21st, 2016| Rule

11 of 12 gamers found this helpful

“Make Pudding more valuable for all players”

For such a long term play, pudding seems relatively one-note and you’re either in the pudding race or you aren’t after the 1st game.

We’ve played it to where it still gives 6 pts to who has the most, but also gives +1 for each pudding you have, regardless of what place you are in in the pudding list. This allows players to sneak in some points, even if they don’t win the pudding battle.

6

Freyja {Casual Gamer}

Jul 22nd, 2015| Rule

19 of 22 gamers found this helpful

“Discard the Last Card”

Being forced to play the last card in each round feels strange. Instead you can follow the 7 Wonders rule and discard the last card in the hand at the end of each round.

4

Kevin W {Avid Gamer}

Jan 20th, 2015| Strategy

32 of 38 gamers found this helpful

“Grab that Squid Nigiri”

A single Squid Nigiri gives you 3 points with one card.
Below are the points for completed sets in point yield order :
-Squid Nigiri (Wasabi) : 9/2 = 4.5 points/card
-Sashimi : 10/3 = 3.3 points/card
-Squid Nigiri : 3/1 = 3 points/card
-Salmon (Wasabi) : 6/2 = 3 points/card
-Dumplings (5) : 15/5 = 3 points/card
-Tempura : 5/2 = 2.5 points/card
-Dumplings (4) : 10/4 = 2.5 points/card
-Salmon : 2/1 = 2 points/card
-Dumplings (3) : 6/3 = 2 points/card
-Egg (Wasabi) : 3/2 = 1.5 points/card
-Dumplings (2) : 3/2 = 1.5 points/card
-Egg : 1/1 = 1 point/card
-Dumplings (1) : 1/1 = 1 point/card

Maki Rolls :
Majority in 1 card : 6/1 = 6 points/card
Majority in 2 cards : 6/2 = 3 points/card
2nd in 1 card : 3/1 = 3 points/card
Majority in 3 cards : 6/3 = 2 points/card
2nd in 2 cards : 3/2 = 1.5 points/card
Majority in 4 cards : 6/4 = 1.5 points/card
2nd in 3 cards : 3/3 = 1 point/card

As you can see, the only combo that can beat a single Squid Nigiri card in point yield is itself on a Wasabi, a completed Sashimi, or a Maki Roll majority won with just 1 card (highly unlikely, if not impossible). So a Squid Nigiri is always nice with or without a Wasabi – plus if you do not have the Wasabi then you are denying 9 potential points to the other player who does.

That being said, if circumstances dictate that a Sashimi is feasible, by all means go ahead lest the other players do go for the Sashimi and thus one-up you by a few points. When faced with options other than the Sashimi, however, if a Squid Nigiri presents itself don’t hesitate to grab it.

4

Kevin W {Avid Gamer}

Jan 31st, 2015| Tip

38 of 52 gamers found this helpful

“Use Chips, not Notes”

One minor quibble our group’s had with Sushi Go is writing down scores. Jotting numbers on a pad or a phone note app breaks the flow of the game. Instead, opt for using poker chips to tally points, with denominations of 1, 5, and 10. Score-keeping is faster, much simpler and less of a hassle, and feels more gamey. Flow is not broken as there is no such downtime where every player scuttles to their phone or a notepad; everyone keeps their eyes on the group table.

10

Tom {Casual Gamer}

Jun 26th, 2017| Tip

“Dumplings...”

Dumplings are a good bet. Even a single one is worth a point, and each additional greatly increases your score.

Sushi Go! (Second Edition) - Tips & Strategies

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