5 of My Top Anticipated Trick-Taking Games Releasing in 2026
My Wishful Wednesday 🔮
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What are your thoughts on trick-taking games? It feels like this category of games specifically is the 'pineapple on pizza' of tabletop games if you will. Either you love them or you hate them. As a renowned Cat in the Box champion, it has become one of my favorite categories of games to pull games from when we are either wanting a lighter night or to slowly introduce new players to the table.
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🖤🤍 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: If you have played any tabletop games with me within the past three months, we have without a DOUBT played this one as I have not been able to contain myself with how much I absolutely adore this game. There is something so indescribably satisfying about completing a chapter that you guys have attempted and failed at 8 times in a row. At the time of writing this, it is the one of only two games on this list that are already out (and the only one that I have already played), but I know that it will continue to be a go to for years to come. Every single person that I have had the opportunity of showing this one to has independently picked up their own copy.
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🚤📓 Sail: Legacy: Genuinely so intrigued to see yet ANOTHER legacy game by AllPlay releasing later this year (talking about you, Mountain Goats). While the original Sail was a good appetizer game for the night, Sail: Legacy has full-course meal written all over it. With there being over 30+ unique missions featuring pick-up-and-deliver, racing, and combat objectives, playing Sail: Legacy feels like it will be an experience and I am so curious to see how that experience for two stacks up against the LOTR: The Two Towers.
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🦕☄️ Sauros: Another game that I was devastated to have missed the Kickstarter on is a game that combines trick-taking, tile laying, and dinosaurs! Rather than merely having objectives that pertain to either winning or not winning the tricks themselves, players are competing to win tiles to place on their own asymmetrical player boards to attempt to match suits/symbols for more dynamic scoring mechanisms. I cannot quite explain what it is (and maybe it's dinosaur bias), but the artwork on this box just makes me so happy to look at.
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📚✨️ Shards of Creation: In this game, players are harnessing the primal forces of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere. Each shard is taking on the role of divinity: Autonomy, Cultivation, Devotion, Dominion, Honor, Odium, Preservation, and Ruin. Each gameplay includes a slightly different setup and objective which leaves plenty of room for variability between games which is the characteristic of the game I am most excited for.
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🧟👸 Zombie Princess: As someone who is a huge fan of Rebel Princess and its similiarities to Hearts, I am extremely excited for this spinoff coming later this year that is far more comparable to Spades in gameplay. Rather than actively avoid princesses all together like in Rebel Princess, players are incentivized to want to hit their bids exactly similiarly to Cat in the Box (not going over nor going under.) Players will still have asymmetrical abilities and rounds will still feature altering gameplay rules allowing for more variability across games played.
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Let me know if you have managed to play any of these just yet and if there are any other trick-taking games on your list that I might have missed this time around. As always, happy gaming, nerds! 🖖🏼🖖🏼
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#boardgamerecommendations #tabletopgaming #boardgames #cozygameraesthethics #gamenightvibes
As someone who has played numerous trick-taking games, I can share that this genre offers a uniquely satisfying blend of strategy and social interaction, making it a staple for game night enthusiasts. The cooperative nature of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is especially compelling—it not only challenges players to work together to overcome difficult chapters but also keeps everyone engaged with a rich narrative experience. Completing challenging missions repeatedly enhances the thrill and sense of accomplishment. Another fascinating entry, Sail: Legacy, expands the trick-taking formula with legacy elements, introducing over 30 distinct missions combining racing, combat, and pick-up-and-deliver mechanics. This evolution adds depth and lasting appeal, ensuring that every playthrough feels fresh and rewarding. Sauros brings an innovative twist by blending trick-taking with tile placement and asymmetrical player boards, which adds a tactile and strategic layer to the gameplay. Its dinosaur theme and engaging artwork make it visually appealing and fun to delve into, especially for fans of thematic games. Shards of Creation stands out by tapping into Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, offering a thematic set-collecting card game where each shard organism embodies primal forces with unique objectives and setups. The variability between games enhances replayability and strategy depth. Finally, Zombie Princess is a must-watch for players who enjoy asymmetrical abilities and trick-taking gameplay akin to Spades but with added layers of strategy and dynamic round rules, making every game different. Overall, these games showcase the versatility and innovation within the trick-taking genre, proving it can be so much more than just winning tricks—it’s about storytelling, legacy, and personalized strategies. For gamers looking to expand their collection or introduce new players, these 2026 releases offer exciting opportunities to enjoy and discover new favorites.
