Kosmos Flip 7: push-your-luck card game for 3 to 18 players

Flip 7 from Kosmos revolves around one simple question that comes up every round: draw another card or stop now? You take turns flipping number cards in front of you to build up points. Draw a number you already have, though, and you are out of the round and lose that round's points. Stop in time and your score is safe.

Action and bonus cards keep it from being pure luck. According to Kosmos they turn the blackjack idea into a fast, nerve-racking game, with the chance of landing the "Flip 7" the game is named after. You play several rounds until someone reaches 200 points.

Kosmos rates the game for 3 to 18 players aged 8 and up, with a playing time of around 20 minutes. The box contains 79 number cards, 9 action cards and 6 bonus cards plus the rules. Thanks to the short rules it works well with people who don't play games often, and with larger groups where many classic board games reach their limits.

Worth knowing: Flip 7 relies heavily on the luck of the draw, so if you prefer long-term planning and tactics it won't challenge you much. According to the publisher it is not designed for two players; the minimum is three. With very large groups you'll need a big table, since everyone lays out their own row of cards. This is the German edition.