Umami
- Designer Don Eskridge
- Publisher HeidelBÄR Games
- Illustration Ikuko Nakai
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What to Expect
You run food stalls in a forest and build three-ingredient dishes to match the tastes of forest denizens. The game uses an open market and visible 'favorites' you try to satisfy; you can also steal ingredients from rivals to improve your dishes. Scoring comes from stars on ingredients and claimed favorites.
Who Is This Game For?
For families and casual gamers who like short, tactical card games: 30 minutes playtime, ages 10+. Rules are approachable but offer tactical depth through drafting and steal interactions.
How It Works
Players hold ingredient cards and use a face-up market to play and build three-card dishes. Mechanics include Open Drafting, Set Collection and Take That: you draft from the market, assemble sets of ingredients, and may use steal icons to take opponents' ingredients. Favorites on display show desired combinations; when you meet one, you claim it for points.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Don Eskridge, Umami pairs a streetfood theme (ramen, takoyaki, miso) with tight card-driven interaction. Its mix of open drafting and direct stealing makes player choices impactful within a compact 30-minute game.
Pro
- Short playtime (~30 minutes) — easy to replay
- High player interaction via the steal mechanic (Take That)
- Clear set-collection goals combined with open drafting
- Strong culinary theme tied to mechanics
Contra
- Direct interaction can be punishing for inexperienced players
- Short game length leaves little room for slow-building strategies
Setting & atmosphere
The game centers on Japanese streetfood—ramen, takoyaki and miso soup—and frames customers as forest creatures with specific tastes reflected in favorites and ingredients.
Tips for beginners
Aim to complete an accessible visible favorite early and use steals sparingly to secure key ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
No — Umami is designed for 2–5 players (minimum 2).
How long does a game really take?
Listed duration is 30 minutes; include setup and explanation time when planning a session.
What prior experience do I need?
Familiarity with drafting or set-collection card games helps, but rules are accessible for new players.
How does this compare to similar games?
Umami combines open drafting with direct stealing and visible/secret goals, making theme and interaction central to play.
Is this suitable for families?
Yes for ages 10+, though the interactive stealing may challenge younger or less experienced players.
What mechanic makes it special?
The blend of Open Drafting, Set Collection and Take That defines its distinctive play loop.
Fazit
A compact, interactive card game that blends drafting and set-collection with direct player interaction. Good if you want a quick, social, theme-forward card game.
