The Game Card Game — Rules, Backwards Trick & Strategy
Cooperate to play all 98 cards onto two rising and two falling piles. Preserve space, communicate carefully and use the exact ten-point backwards trick.
The Game is a 2015 cooperative card game designed by Steffen Benndorf. Players try to place numbered cards 2 through 99 on four directional piles without getting blocked. The simple placement rule has one powerful exception: a play exactly ten in the opposite direction.
This guide explains setup for one through five players, all four piles, minimum plays, legal communication, the backwards trick and how the game ends. It also distinguishes The Game from The Mind and The Game: Quick & Easy.
The critical exception
An ascending pile showing 58 can receive 48, and a descending pile showing 43 can receive 53. Each exact ten-point reverse move opens up more room for the team.
Game at a Glance
1. Deal
Give each player six to eight cards.
2. Play
Place two or more cards on valid piles.
3. Reverse
Use an exact ten-point backwards jump.
4. Win
Clear every card from the 98-card deck.
Setup, hand sizes and the four piles
Shuffle the 98 numbered cards, numbered 2 through 99, and place four direction cards in the middle: two starting at 1 for ascending piles and two starting at 100 for descending piles. Deal eight cards for solo play, seven each with two players, or six each with three to five players. Keep remaining cards as the draw pile.
The game is cooperative: everyone wins or loses together. The four directions are separate piles, even though two follow the same direction.
Turn sequence and minimum cards to play
Play at least two cards from your hand onto any combination of the four piles, following the direction restrictions or the backwards trick. You may play more than two, individually and in any legal order. After finishing, draw as many cards as you played, restoring your original hand size while the draw deck contains enough cards.
After the draw deck runs out, the requirement drops to at least one card per turn. Keep playing until every numbered card is played or a player cannot meet the required minimum.
Ascending piles: higher numbers, with one exception
On either ascending pile, each new card ordinarily must have a number higher than its current top card. A pile might progress 1 → 4 → 6 → 13 → 27. Large jumps are legal, but consume valuable number space and reduce future options.
Example: if an ascending pile shows 38, you can ordinarily play any remaining card numbered 39 or higher. Playing 86 is legal but may make that pile much harder to use later.
Descending piles: lower numbers
On the two descending piles, each new card ordinarily must have a number lower than its current top card. For example, 100 → 97 → 88 → 85 is legal.
As with ascending piles, you are allowed to make a large gap, but the team generally benefits from preserving room for later cards.
The backwards trick: exactly ten in the reverse direction
Every pile has a crucial exception to its normal ordering rule. On an ascending pile, you may play a number exactly 10 lower than its top. On a descending pile, you may play one exactly 10 higher than its top.
| Pile | Current top | Legal backwards play | New top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending | 58 | 48 | 48 |
| Ascending | 91 | 81 | 81 |
| Descending | 43 | 53 | 53 |
| Descending | 17 | 27 | 27 |
This trick can be used multiple times during a turn and on any pile when the exact number is available. The new top card becomes the reference for the next placement. A gap of nine or eleven is not a valid backwards move.
Communication: what players may and may not say
Players may discuss which piles need protection and request that teammates avoid using a particular pile. However, they must not reveal exact card numbers in their hands, and should avoid clues that directly disclose precise values.
For example, “Please leave the left ascending pile for me” is a useful general request. “I have the 48 for that 58 pile” directly reveals a specific held card and is not allowed.
Unlike The Mind, the game is not completely silent. Cooperative planning is encouraged within the limits of the communication rule.
What if you cannot play enough cards?
If the draw deck still has cards and your turn cannot legally place at least two cards, the game ends in defeat. Once the draw deck is empty, you need to place only one card; failure to do even that ends the game.
If your hand is empty after the draw deck runs out, you are finished contributing while others continue with their remaining cards. It is possible for teammates to carry the game to completion after an individual has run out.
Winning and how to measure a partial result
The team achieves a perfect win only if all 98 numbered cards have been played onto the four piles. A game that ends early is not a full win, but the number of cards left unplayed can measure how close you were.
Example: if the team gets stuck with seven numbered cards remaining across all hands and the draw deck, that is a seven-card remainder. A subsequent attempt ending with three is an improvement, even though neither was a perfect victory.
Solo play versus multiplayer
The Game supports one to five players. Solo setup uses an eight-card hand, allowing one person to plan across all available numbers without discussion. Two players begin with seven cards each, while groups of three to five use six each.
Solo play emphasizes careful management of all four piles and keeping reversals available. More players introduce hidden hands and restricted communication: a play that looks sensible to one person may obstruct an important card in another player’s hand.
The Game: Quick & Easy and The Game: Extreme
The Game: Quick & Easy is a separate shorter adaptation with 50 numbered cards in five colors, two piles and a backwards rule based on matching card colors rather than a numeric difference of ten.
The Game: Extreme keeps the central original structure but introduces additional card restrictions and effects. Neither variant’s rules should be substituted into the standard 98-card game.
Nine practical strategy principles
- Make small ordinary steps. A card close to the current pile top preserves more future placements.
- Reserve room on both ascending piles. Advancing both rapidly toward 99 can leave high cards unplayable.
- Keep descending piles flexible. The same logic applies as they approach 2.
- Look for exact ten-point reversals. A backwards play can reopen space that otherwise seemed lost.
- Communicate pile intentions, not numbers. A brief request can prevent another player from undoing a planned move.
- Use extra plays selectively. Playing more than the required two may improve your hand, but only if the placements themselves do not damage the piles.
- Think across all four piles. Protect the options held by others, even if one pile seems best for your immediate hand.
- Adapt once the draw deck is empty. The reduced one-card minimum changes which plays are necessary.
- Count unplayed cards afterward. Tracking remaining cards helps compare attempts without pretending near-misses were perfect wins.
These are rules-based editorial suggestions, not claims of personal playtesting.
The Game frequently asked questions
How many people can play The Game?
One to five.
How many numbered cards are there?
98, numbered 2–99, plus four starting cards.
How many cards do you deal?
Eight in solo play, seven each with two players, or six each with three to five.
How many cards must you play on a turn?
At least two while drawing remains possible; at least one once the draw deck is empty.
What is the backwards trick?
Exactly ten lower on ascending piles, or exactly ten higher on descending piles.
Can you use the backwards trick twice in one turn?
Yes, if both placements are individually legal.
Can teammates talk?
Yes, but they may not reveal exact numbers in their hands.
Do you draw after playing?
Yes, draw back toward your original hand size while cards remain in the draw deck.
How do you win?
Play all 98 numbered cards successfully.
Is it the same as The Mind?
No. The Game permits limited discussion and uses four piles and ten-point reversals; The Mind relies on silent ascending timing.
Who should play The Game Card Game?
Best for solo players or groups of up to five who enjoy number puzzles and cooperative coordination under communication limits. Its four piles create a tense hand-management puzzle; players looking for story, characters or direct competition should choose something else.
Similar games and what to play next
If you are comparing this game with other titles on BoardGameArchive, these guides explain genuinely different mechanics and player experiences:
- The Mind — Both involve ordering numbered cards cooperatively, but The Mind is silent while The Game permits limited discussion and four piles.
- Bandido — For another compact co-op that works solo, Bandido replaces numbers with visual tile placement.
- For Northwood! — For a dedicated solo card challenge with trick-taking instead of ascending and descending piles.
Rules sources and editorial scope
Reviewed October 11, 2026. Rules examples and strategy are original editorial explanations without claimed personal playtesting. Editorial policy and corrections.