Leaping Lions
Leaping Lions at your next game night?
Add Leaping Lions to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
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- Designer Darryl Tan
- Publisher Button Shy
- Illustration Nguyen Ngoc Anh Tram
The description, FAQ and assessments for this game were generated with the help of artificial intelligence from the game data and reviewed editorially. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
What to Expect
You stage a lion dance performance, building platforms for your dancer to leap across the stage. On your turn you choose platforms based on your current star count, add them to your stage or discard to improve existing platforms, and use special abilities to advance your lion. Scoring considers lion position, instrument sets, pairs of firecrackers and fans, and runs of ascending platforms.
Who Is This Game For?
This is a short, tactical two-player micro-game suitable for families and hobbyists age 8+. With about 15 minutes per game it fits well into a busy game night and requires little prior experience while offering meaningful decisions.
How It Works
Core mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection: players select available platforms based on their star count, place or discard them to modify the stage, and trigger special abilities to move their lion. Throughout the game you assemble sets and ascending platform runs that will score at the end. The highest total score wins the dance.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Darryl Tan and published by Button Shy, Leaping Lions compresses thematic lion-dance action into a fast two-player card experience. As part of Button Shy's micro-game/print-&-play series it emphasizes tight decisions around set collection and hand management.
Pro
- Very short playtime (~15 minutes) for quick duels
- Thematic focus on lion dance and platform jumps
- Tight decision space driven by Hand Management
- Set Collection rewards tactical planning
Contra
- Strictly two-player only
- Short games limit long-term strategic depth
Setting & atmosphere
The theme is the lion dance, as performed in Malaysia, featuring jumps between platforms to rhythmic instruments typical of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Tips for beginners
Focus on completing simple sets and use special abilities to secure movement rather than forcing complex combos early.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
No. Leaping Lions is designed for two players (2).
How long does a game really take?
Around 15 minutes per game; including setup it's still a quick experience.
What prior experience do I need?
Minimal: basic familiarity with Hand Management and Set Collection helps, but it's accessible from age 8 up.
How does this compare to similar games?
It pairs a cultural theme with compact Hand Management and Set Collection mechanics in a micro-game format, emphasizing quick tactical play.
Is this suitable for families?
Yes; its short duration and approachable mechanics make it family-friendly, though only playable with two people.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of Hand Management with Set Collection drives the core scoring and choices.
Fazit
A focused, fast two-player experience that pairs theme with compact tactical choices. Recommended if you want short, strategic duels with a cultural theme.
Leaping Lions at your next game night?
Add Leaping Lions to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
Add Leaping Lions to my collectionAlready have an account? Log in
