10. KORYO

1100 BGG Votes

Why should I get Koryo?

Well, thanks for asking! Do you have a family? Do they know how to play card games like hearts or spades but don’t want to take the time to learn a board game, or are intimidated by the thought of going through a rule book?

Welcome to the club. Koryo can help you scratch the itch of playing a board game with the components of a card game. It won’t be too daunting to plop a deck of cards in front of Uncle Bob, and the game has as much depth as you can handle in 30 minutes, without having to feel like you need to really over analyze every decision.

How does it play? What makes this game fun?

Such great questions. But one at a time, please.

Koryo plays over a series of rounds, 8 rounds to be exact, and every round you get to play cards in front of you. You also progressively draw 1 less card, and get to have one more card in front of you.

Why is that fun? Why do I care about playing cards in front of me?

That’s two questions again, but I’ll let it slide. Well, the cards each have special powers that let you bend the rules of the game, and if at the end of your turn you have the most of a card you get to take its special action.

Also, whoever has the most of a card at the end of the game scores points for that card. The cards are numbered 1-9 and they are worth the point value on the card. There are also that number of cards in the deck. I.e. there are three 3’s, one 1, and Eight 8’s.

The special abilities of the lower cards are more powerful but you’ll miss out on having the higher point cards. That’s where the tension comes in, as well as the fun. Every round you draw fewer and fewer cards, so you are getting farther and farther away from being able to do whatever you want, and every small decision seems that much more precious. There is never an overwhelming amount of decisions to make, but they seem more meaningful as the game goes on. The ability to have more powerful actions when you have fewer points also ensures that the game will almost always come down to the wire.

Who will play it with me?

I will, and you can probably get that person that’s always loved card games but isn’t yet comfortable with you pulling out that scary board game with the huge rule book. The small box and short play time mean that you can keep it with you at all times. Just make sure and sleeve the cards when you are at the waterpark.