Yomi (card game)
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| Designers | David Sirlin |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Sirlin Games |
| Players | 2 (with game modes that support up to 6 players)[1] |
| Playing time | ~30 minutes |
| Chance | Medium |
| Age range | 10 and up |
| Skills | Hand management, valuation, reading one's opponent |
Yomi: Fighting Card Game (often shortened to Yomi) is a designer card game created by David Sirlin, inspired by Super Street Fighter II Turbo, which Sirlin also worked on.[2] “Yomi” is Japanese for “reading,” as in reading the mind of the opponent. The Yomi card game is designed to distill the high-level mind games from fighting game into a simple card game. It features asymmetric gameplay, and makes use of cards with multiple options.
Products within the series
[edit]There are two products within the Yomi series:[3]
- The base set (featuring 10 characters)
- The Shadows Expansion (featuring another 10 characters)
Additionally, there are special versions of those cards, such as the EX character cards,[4] and special edition decks, such as the G. Panda deck.[5]
Editions
[edit]Yomi, including the base set and Shadows Expansion, has been through many iterations throughout its lifetime, and is currently in its second edition.[6]
The first edition of Yomi was made available in 2011.
Yomi second edition, an update of the first edition, features:
- Several new game modes (including a 2 vs 2 and 3 vs 3 team battle, a solo mode against an automated opponent,[6] and a 2 vs 1 mode[1])
- Small changes to character cards and some game mechanics[6]
The second edition was first made available for purchase via a Kickstarter campaign ahead of retail sale.[7]
Online version
[edit]In addition to being playable with physical cards, Yomi can be played online against human opponents or the "yomibot" AI via an iOS app, or on Steam.
Reception
[edit]Jamie Salmon writing for the Nottingham Evening Post likens a turn of Yomi to a game of rock paper scissors including aspects of "second-guessing mind games"[2]
Matt Thrower of Pocket Gamer called the mobile game "a world first in genre blending".[8] He also noted the complexity of the game.
Kelsey Rinella of Pocket Tactics noted that the breadth of characters meant the game could take a long time to master, but allowed players to choose how they approached the game, also noting it felt more like playing a fighting game than expected.[9]
Chris Carter of TouchArcade wrote: "Sirlin Games has done a great job of making sure everything’s balanced, and just playing from the base game is plenty competitive."[10]
Setting
[edit]Yomi is set within and features characters from the Fantasy Strike universe created by David Sirlin.[11]
Gameplay
[edit]The objective of Yomi is similar to that of competitive fighting games like Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The first player to bring their opponent to 0 hp wins.
There are 5 types of cards available:
- Attacks - Beat throws and slower attacks. Loses to blocks and dodges.
- Throws - Beat blocks and dodges, often causing a knockdown. Loses to attacks.
- Blocks - Beat attacks and draw a card. Loses to throws and cross up attacks.
- Dodges - Beat attacks and allow for a counterattack. Loses to throws.
- Jokers - Beat attacks and throws. Loses to blocks and dodges.
Turn Sequence
[edit]Play is simultaneous for both players.
- Draw Phase (skip on first turn)
- Draw a card
- Combat Phase
- Play a face-down card
- Reveal combat cards simultaneously
- Determine combat winner
- Loser can play face-down Joker to avoid more damage, or a bluff card, or discard their combat card to signify they're skipping this step
- Winner plays combos if applicable
- Reveal and discard Joker/bluff card
- Discard remaining combat cards at end of combat
- Power Up Phase
- Discard pairs, 3-of-a-kinds, or 4-of-a-kinds to search for Aces.
- Search for more Aces if you hit with a chain combo this turn.
Awards and honors
[edit]- 2010 - Tom Vasel's Game of the Year
- 2011 - #12 on Tom Vasel's top 100 games of all time (2011 edition)[12][13]
- 2012 - Bestcovery Best Card Game award
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Rulebook". sirlin.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b Salmon, Jamie (13 Feb 2015). "Attacks on the cards: GAMES". Nottingham Evening Post. ProQuest 1654981930.
- ^ "Sirlin Games - Yomi". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08.
- ^ "Sirlin Games - A fighting game in card form with 20 characters. Can you read the mind of your opponent?". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
- ^ "Sirlin Games - A Blivand take on Yomi". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
- ^ a b c "Yomi (Second Edition)".
- ^ "Yomi Description". kickstarter.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Thrower, Matt (Apr 28, 2014). "Yomi". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ Rinella, Kelsey (18 Apr 2014). "Review: Yomi". Pocket Tactics. Archived from the original on Jul 19, 2017. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ Carter, Chris (July 11, 2014). "'Yomi' Review – A Fighting Card Game". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ "Fantasy Strike". www.fantasystrike.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10.
- ^ "The Dice Tower - Top 100: 11-20 (2011)". www.dicetower.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28.
- ^ "Sirlin.Net - Website Login". sirlingames.squarespace.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.