Since card games are generally low cost—at least comparatively—they’re often great additions to any collection. You can crack open a new deck, deal out the cards, and enjoy an evening’s entertainment at a very reasonable cost per hour. In times when budgets are tight, that matters. And if the game turns out to be a dud, you haven’t invested a fortune.
Another big advantage of card games is their flexibility with player counts—and EKKO fits that description to a ‘T’. It plays well with two to eight players, which is impressive for such a small-box game. It’s surprisingly good with two, but the fun level definitely scales up as you add more players.
From designer Xavier Jauneault, artist Allison Machepy, and publisher The Flying Games (check out ilo3-7.com in Canada), EKKO is incredibly simple to learn yet manages to be quite entertaining.
At its core, EKKO is a discard (shedding) game. Your goal is to get rid of all your cards before your opponents do—about as classic and straightforward as card game objectives come.
On your turn, you play a card. The next player must then play a card that’s either higher or lower in value. Can’t play? Draw a card! That’s the basic rhythm of EKKO—simple and fast.
But a few clever twists give the game extra life:
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Divisible by 11: Play a card divisible by 11 and you get an extra turn—a big deal in a shedding game.
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Mirror cards: The mirror card of a card has its digits reversed. For example, 73 is the mirror of 37. Playing a mirror card lets you choose—either make all players draw a card or discard one of your own. Unsurprisingly, most players opt to make others draw!
The mirror mechanic adds a nice layer of tension and interaction, becoming more frequent (and more fun) as the player count rises. With more cards in circulation, the odds of someone holding a mirror match go up—and so does the chaos when everyone starts drawing.
Now, EKKO won’t win awards for its art—it’s serviceable, nothing more. And if you’re looking for deep strategy, this isn’t your game.
But for a relaxed group night, EKKO delivers exactly what it promises: quick, accessible, and enjoyable play. For The Meeple Guild, that earns it high praise.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
A surprising charmer
Another big advantage of card games is their flexibility with player counts—and EKKO fits that description to a ‘T’. It plays well with two to eight players, which is impressive for such a small-box game. It’s surprisingly good with two, but the fun level definitely scales up as you add more players.
From designer Xavier Jauneault, artist Allison Machepy, and publisher The Flying Games (check out ilo3-7.com in Canada), EKKO is incredibly simple to learn yet manages to be quite entertaining.
At its core, EKKO is a discard (shedding) game. Your goal is to get rid of all your cards before your opponents do—about as classic and straightforward as card game objectives come.
On your turn, you play a card. The next player must then play a card that’s either higher or lower in value. Can’t play? Draw a card! That’s the basic rhythm of EKKO—simple and fast.
But a few clever twists give the game extra life:
Divisible by 11: Play a card divisible by 11 and you get an extra turn—a big deal in a shedding game.
Mirror cards: The mirror card of a card has its digits reversed. For example, 73 is the mirror of 37. Playing a mirror card lets you choose—either make all players draw a card or discard one of your own. Unsurprisingly, most players opt to make others draw!
The mirror mechanic adds a nice layer of tension and interaction, becoming more frequent (and more fun) as the player count rises. With more cards in circulation, the odds of someone holding a mirror match go up—and so does the chaos when everyone starts drawing.
Now, EKKO won’t win awards for its art—it’s serviceable, nothing more. And if you’re looking for deep strategy, this isn’t your game.
But for a relaxed group night, EKKO delivers exactly what it promises: quick, accessible, and enjoyable play. For The Meeple Guild, that earns it high praise.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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