Yogi is a party game where you will be drawing card performing actions and trying to be the last one standing. It is fast paced, silly and challenging offering an interesting gameplay experience. Will this game be a barrel of laughs for us or a bit of a dud? Read on to find out more!
I first came across this game at Airecon in 2023 where I received a demo of the game with my wife from the designer Bez Shahriari. The game caught our attention due to the laughter coming from the table and the smiles on people's faces around it. Due this I had to take a look and give it a go to see what the hype was all about. Then about a year after this experience we saw that Gigamic was producing it now and had to pick up a copy to see if it was as much fun as we remembered.
First Impressions
My first impressions of the game when it arrived were generally positive. I liked the fun art style and embossing on the front cover making it really interesting from a visual point of view and the name of the game just pops. The use of the yellow lettering against the green really helps emphasize the name and the white border around the green outline really draws your eye to where it needs to be.
The back of the box continues in the same fun art direction using the characterful artwork that have been designed for the game to explain how it plays. The simple flow on this part of the box reads really nicely too as it gives you a real impression of what to expect from the game and the silliness involved. A downside for some people maybe that the components on the back of the box that are shown are in the animated style of the the rest of the box are and do not show the exact cards you get in the box but this was fine in my opinion as I liked the continuity.
With this product I really liked how the box opens like a little draw to reveal the game inside. From looking through the component you can tell the cards have been made to a really good quality and have a waterproof lining to protect them from water damage while playing. A nice thing I found with the cards was the art on them were in the same style and design as that on the box making the game feel complete. The card trays are also a nice addition as it keeps the cards nicely organised in the box, makes set up super quick and the angle on the bed of the tray makes the cards easy to draw from the holder.
Game Play Overview
In Yogi you will be drawing cards performing action and trying to remain in the game for as long as possible. The last player standing is the winner.
The game begins with the most Zen player and then continues clockwise around the group with each player taking turns. At the start of your turn you will draw a card from one of the two decks and then read the instructions aloud. Now you must follow the instructions and get into position ensuring that you are following any previous instructions on the other cards you have. Green cards are cards you must use while following the instruction, while Pink and Orange cards must be played face up in front of you.
If at any point even momentarily you are not following the instruction on a card you have you are immediately eliminated. You can adjust your position as long as all instruction are still met. The other way you can be eliminated is if you are unable to draw a card on your turn as you would need to stop following an instruction in order to draw it.
The winner of the game is the player remaining in the game after all other players have been eliminated.
Pros and Cons
In my honest opinion this game has been really well designed and has provided hours of entertainment. The game is super simple to teach making it accessible to a wide range of people. The game mechanics are very streamlined and straight forward making gameplay fast and engaging. The production of the components is excellent, with the waterproof finish on the cards being such a great idea for a party game like this as it allows it to be played in more social situations. There has only been one negative I have found with the game and that is the player count and style of play it offers as some people do not enjoy games that have quite a silly nature and the game needs a minimum of three players to play. Though for me I really enjoyed the silly nature of this game and it has resulted in me and my friends having many fond memories of the game.
Final Verdict
Overall, I really enjoy this game and would definitely recommend it to someone who enjoys playing their party games. The speed of which it plays and the fast set up really make this game great, allowing you to set up and play in a short amount of time. At the end of every game I have felt fulfilled and happy no matter if I win or lose due to the laughter and fun that is had at the table during the game. If you play with a group of gamers who are more serious gamers and do not enjoy silly party style games I would advise you avoid this one as it is very much in that party game category, if you are looking for a large group game possibly look at One Night Ultimate Werewolf or Skull. Though if you play with people who like to play silly party games or just want a game to play with a wide spectrum of people I would definitely recommend taking a look at this game as it would make a perfect fit for your group in my opinion.
In conclusion, we would rate this game a 9.6/10
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