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When Nope came into my possession, it is fair to say that I instantly drew a likeness to the ever popular card game Uno. With its coloured and numbered cards, you could see why one would draw this comparison. Dive down into the game however and what you find is a fiendishly strategic, quick-play card game that will have your head in your hands quicker than you can say “nope”!
How to play Nope
Nope (published by Ridley's Games) is a fairly easy game to get stuck into. Each player receives seven cards (eight if you are playing with two players) from a shuffled deck of cards. In that deck, there are four types of cards, single-coloured, dual-coloured, wild and action cards.
The single-coloured and dual-coloured cards will have one or two colours on them respectively and this, along with a number from one to three, will dictate what cards you must play onto the discard pile. The wild cards are multi-coloured and have the number one on them and the action cards have various different actions that can change up the gameplay!
Players take it in turns to either play cards, if they can, or pick up a card. When players play a card, it must match what the previous card is asking for. For example, if the card on top of the discard pile was a dual-colour orange and green card with the number two, the player would have to either lay two orange or two green coloured cards (single or dual) down. You cannot mix and match!
If you can’t do this, then you must pick up a card. If you can play after picking up, then lay down the cards. If not you say nope, and play passes to the left. The aim of the game is to be the last person with cards in their hand, so picking up is beneficial in this case!
Final Thoughts on Nope
Nope is an interesting concept. As a card game, you want something that is fast-paced, quick fire, and easy to play and understand. Nope is just that! While it may take a little getting used to, the game challenges you to think before frantically laying your cards down, so as to protect your hand from being diminished while also trying to get the next player to lay down their cards!
I found myself really pondering whether to attempt to get the next player to lay three cards down, while risking my own as if they didn’t have the cards, I may well end up putting the cards down myself. My one gripe about Nope is the quality of the cards! The gameplay is fantastic but it's let down by the card stock. The cards don’t glide like usual playing cards and numerous times I found them sticking, something you don’t want in a game like this! This is something to bear in mind but while a little annoying, it by no means detracts from the gameplay itself.
Would I recommend Nope? Well, yes, I probably would. The game is a fantastic filler for your board game nights, especially when you want something that taxes the mind while also keeps the interest and fun levels up. This family-friendly card game is sure to delight all audiences and the way in which it works and plays really gelled with me, as I am sure it will with you!
