Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition
- Designer Muneyuki Yokouchi (横内宗幸)
- Publisher Hobby Japan , Bézier Games , Board Game Rookie , Broadway Toys LTD , Choo Choo Games
- Illustration Osamu Inoue (井上磨)
Track your results with Playnexi
Add this game to your collection and track sessions, scores, and statistics.
Start for freeWhat to Expect
In Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition, 2 to 5 players engage in a quantum-inspired trick-taking card game where the color of your card is only defined when you play it. You predict how many tricks you will win and place tokens on a communal research board to connect groups and score points. Avoid paradoxes by not claiming the same card color and number already declared, adding a unique strategic layer.
Who Is This Game For?
This is a medium-weight game suitable for gamers aged 13 and up who enjoy strategic card games with tactical depth. The 40-minute playtime fits well into a game night. Prior experience with trick-taking mechanics is helpful but not mandatory. It appeals to players looking for innovative and thoughtful gameplay.
How It Works
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition combines trick-taking with hand management and predictive bidding. Before each round, you declare how many tricks you aim to win and play cards whose colors are determined only when played. You place tokens on an enclosure-style community research board to connect groups for bonus points while avoiding color-number conflicts to prevent paradoxes.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Muneyuki Yokouchi, the game won the 2022 Golden Geek Light Game of the Year and Most Innovative Board Game awards. The deluxe edition features high-quality components and a redesigned community research board. It belongs to the Animals: Cats family and stands out for its quantum theme in the trick-taking genre.
Awards
2022
- 2022 Board Game Quest Awards Best Card Game — Nominated
- 2022 Board Game Quest Awards Best Reprint/Reimplementation — Nominated
Pro
- Innovative blend of trick-taking and quantum theme
- Winner of Golden Geek Light Game of the Year 2022
- Combines hand management and predictive bidding
- High-quality deluxe components with recessed boards and plastic tokens
Contra
- Rules complexity may deter beginners
- 40-minute playtime requires focus
- Not suitable for players under 13
Setting & Atmosphäre
The game is based on the Schrödinger's cat thought experiment, bringing a quantum theme to a card game for 2-5 players who act as 'cool cats' in a scientific research setting.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Focus on realistically estimating your tricks and carefully observing token placement on the research board.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
No, Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition is designed for 2 to 5 players and does not include a solo mode.
How long does a game really take?
A game typically lasts about 40 minutes, suitable for a game night.
What prior experience do I need?
Basic knowledge of trick-taking games is helpful; it is aimed at medium-weight gamers aged 13 and up.
How does this compare to similar games?
Cat in the Box uniquely combines trick-taking with a quantum theme and enclosure mechanics, making it innovative.
Is this suitable for families?
Due to complexity and age limit of 13+, it is better suited for experienced players rather than families with young children.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of trick-taking, hand management, predictive bidding, and enclosure sets it apart mechanically.
Fazit
Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition offers an innovative twist on trick-taking games with unique mechanics appealing to strategic players. Newcomers might find the learning curve challenging.
