If you have ever blamed a losing trick on bad cards, Luz turns the tables completely. IELLO's new English edition hides the values of your own hand from you, so only your opponents can see what you are actually holding. You see colour. They see numbers. Welcome to the most nerve-wracking trick-taker on the table this spring.
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Find events near youLuz is designed by Taiki Shinzawa, a prolific Japanese designer with a reputation for small, clever trick-taking games. The original Japanese edition came out of the Korokoro Dou circle, and IELLO picked it up for the wider market with redrawn stained-glass artwork where the illustrations grow brighter as card values climb. It plays 3-5 players in about 30 minutes, rated for ages 10 and up, and it is being reviewed enthusiastically across the hobby press after its English rollout.
The twist is all in the information asymmetry. Each round you grab cards without peeking, bet on how many tricks you will win, and then have to read your opponents' reactions to work out what you are probably holding. Lead a colour and watch someone wince, and you know you are sitting on the big one. Play safe and hit your bid for a steady score, or go bold and chase a bonus by winning exactly what you predicted. It is the sort of game that produces table talk immediately, which is why it is getting traction with people who usually find trick-takers a bit dry.
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Start organising for freeIt slots nicely between The Crew and something like Cat in the Box, so if your group is already fond of modern trick-takers this is an easy recommendation. Time to rally the regulars, find a game night near you, and see who holds their nerve when they cannot even see their own hand.
Sources: IELLO | Casual Game Revolution | Mr Boardgames
