Trash Pandas

A simple and pretty quick 2-4 player card game all about pushing your luck. Gamewright games are genius’s at producing the small in size, quick to play and full of fun games. Trash Pandas is no exception. A perfect game for when away on holidays/travelling or just looking to play a short game as time is limited.

Game Box Components:

• 1 deck of 54 playing cards.
• 6 wooden action tokens.
• 1 unique 6-sided die
• Rule Sheet.

This is it, oh so simple.

Game Rules Overview

In Trash Panda’s, you and each of your opponents are playing the part of a “Trash Panda” (a thieving raccoon). Your objective is to hoard as much trash (the treasure) from the deck as cards as possible and have the highest score at the end of the game.

Each player has a starting hand. The first player has a hand of 3 cards, 2nd player a hand of 4 cards, 3rd player gets 5 cards and if you have a 4th player they get 6 cards. It helps balance the play.

When play commences the first player rolls the die and takes the corresponding action token to the face of the die. At this point they must decide whether they want to roll again or not. If they do, whatever they roll, they take the corresponding action token. The player can do this as many times as there are action tokens available. If, however, the player should roll an action they have already rolled that turn, then their turn is lost and play immediately passes to the next player.

When the player decides they have had enough rolling then they can play all the actions they have accrued and once they have resolved those actions. Play then passes on.

The game ends when the trash deck ends and the scoring begins.

The Gamble

The stressful part for the player whose turn it is, but the entertainment for all other players participating in the game. You’ve accrued some actions and do you choose to stick with the actions gathered or twist and have another roll. Knowing fully your odds of getting a new action to add to your pool, but running the risk of losing everything and gaining nothing from your turn. The pressure mounts when you can see how well your opponents are doing (or not doing) and it certainly influences your decision making at this point.

It is a good time to note if you successfully collect all 6 tokens you instantly get a bonus turn after resolving your 6 actions. On this bonus turn you are limited to drawing 3 more actions, but this is golden for your game and a massive advantage. I’m yet to see a player take all 6 tokens in a single turn, no one’s nerve has held to gamble so far.

The Score

Another stressful element, I know some games play this way but there are not many games where you don’t know how well (or badly) your opponents are doing. 1 of the actions is the ability to store trash from your hand for the final score. You place the cards face down and this is the building of your own Trash Panda’s treasure deck. You’ll have a good idea of how well you are scoring but you really don’t have any idea on how well your opponents are doing. You just see a pile of cards getting bigger and bigger in front of them. To say this then influences how you play your turn is an understatement. You might feel you need to push your luck that bit further in the die rolling phase to get an additional action or 2.

When the last card is drawn the game ends that turn and everyone reveals their trash (treasure) and the final count begins. Highest score taking the victory.

The Stitch Up

Like any game I love, there is an element of being able to make a play that directly impacts your opposition. Trash Panda’s has cards throughout the deck that can be played at the appropriate time that really stitch up your opponent in the moment. For instance, you may have decided you cannot risk another roll and one of your opponents plays the “yum yum” card, forcing you to make another roll. I’ve found this very upsetting when I’ve then rolled an action I already have and lost my turn. My opponents however found it incredibly hilarious. It’s all part of the game though and I made sure I got my own back.

Final Thoughts

I love Gamewrights “word” at the end of the rules, noting the changing of the word Racoon to Panda. Raccoons just don’t appeal in the same way as a Panda does and it does make this game so much more appealing. For such a simple and quick game, Trash Panda’s has a lot going on and requiring a lot more thought than it might be given credit for. If you are a serious gamer then this isn’t likely a game that will appeal to you but if you enjoy a light hearted and highly amusing game then this could be perfect.

Gamewright have knocked it out of the park again with this game of Trash Pandas and it will remain a firm favourite in our collection for many years to come.