Need a brisk filler to kick off game night, or something to fill the gap while stragglers arrive? IPSO, the tidy number game from French publisher Gigamic and designer Alexandre Droit, is now free to play in your browser on Board Game Arena, no box required.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeEach player starts with a small pyramid of face-down number cards. On your turn you take one of two face-up cards from the middle, slot it into your pyramid, and send the card it replaces back to the centre for someone else to grab. The aim is to end up with rows that climb cleanly from low to high.
The catch is that you cannot see most of your own cards, so it becomes a game of memory, reading what your rivals are hoovering up, and knowing when to commit. A single Star card is your safety net: keep it for three guaranteed points, or gamble it away for one last swap to tidy a row. Ascending rows in a single colour are worth more than mixed ones, so there is a constant tug between playing it safe and going for the prettier line. It is built for 2 to 6 players, ages 7 and up, and a game is over in around 15 minutes.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeThe free version landed on Board Game Arena on 25 May, so it is a no-cost way to learn the rules before deciding whether a physical copy earns a spot in your bag. If you are after a light opener for your regular sessions, IPSO is an easy yes, and if you still need people to play it with, you can find a group near you.
Sources: Board Game Arena | Gigamic
