Balance science against madness in Mad, a clever trick-taking card game where winning a trick can be just as dangerous as losing one. This compact travel game challenges you to manipulate positive Science values plus negative Madness values with the lowest final score claiming victory.
 
Across two rounds, players compete in a series of tricks. One player leads with a card then everyone else must follow suit whenever possible. The highest card in the starting suit wins the trick, but the winner does not simply collect the spoils. Instead, they choose an opponent’s card from the trick placing it into the matching Score Pile.
 
Every card has two sides: Science for positive points or Madness for negative points. As cards are added to your Score Piles, their values can shift, so you’ll need to think carefully about which tricks are worth taking. Two suits begin out of balance, creating a clear objective: bring every element as close to zero as possible without allowing another area to spiral away from neutrality.
 
The real strategy lies in resisting the temptation to win every trick. Sometimes the best move is to let another player take control, giving you a better chance to collect the card you need later. Read the table, manage your hand, watch the changing values and then use the trick-taking system to carefully correct your score.
 
With its unusual scoring mechanic, quick playtime plus pocket-friendly format, Mad is an ideal small box card game for travels to create an entertaining family game night with players who enjoy trick-taking with a clever twist.