Startups Cover Artwork Oink Games Japan on a white background
Startups Rear Cover Artwork Oink Games Japan on a white background
Startups Game Cards by Oink Games Japan on a white background
Startups Game play by Oink Games Japan
Startups Monopoly Token by Oink Games Japan on a table background

Startups | Draw & Discard Card Game

Regular price£22.00
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Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

  • Free UK shipping on orders over £75
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way

Start Ups is a remake of an older game called ‘Rights’ from Japanese games producer, Oink Games. It is a strategic draw and discard card game using tokens as a scoring mechanic.

What is Startups about?

Each player is an investor looking to take the largest market share in 6 different companies. The companies are represented by the cards in the game and each company has between 5 and 10 cards allocated to it making some easier to control than others. Players must make choices throughout the rounds on whether to keep or discard cards, judging how likely they will be to have the highest number of cards of that company by the end of the game.

So, how do you play Startups by Oink Games?

1. The cards are shuffled (5 cards are removed) and 3 cards are dealt to each player along with the money tokens. 

2. The starting player will then pick up a card from the deck that has been placed face down in the centre of the play area. They must choose to either invest in one of the companies from their hand (by laying the card face up in front of them) or discard one of the cards by laying it face up by the deck (in the market area.)

3. The next player then has the option to either take blind from the deck or take an upturned card in the market area. Choosing from the blind deck will mean that the player must pay a money token onto any face up cards in the market area. Taking an upturned card will not cost a token AND if there has been a payment token placed on it the player receives this token and the card.

4. This player then has the same choice to invest or discard (but they cannot immediately discard an upturned card that they have just taken from the market area.)

5. There is also a wildcard element where any player that has the most cards of any company will be given the anti-monopoly chip for that company. This means they are no longer allowed to pick up discarded cards in the market area for that company (but also do not have to pay tokens to those cards on their go.)

6. The game continues until blind deck has been used up. Scores are determined by the number cards that each player has for each company and money tokens are allocated accordingly. The player with highest number of cards per company receiving payment from all other players that have cards of the same company either in their portfolio or still in their hand.

Startups is a fun and quick to learn and play card game. You have to watch your opponents strategies but the blind deck and hidden cards give a likeable element of chance that keeps everyone guessing till the end. Like all great card games it has very few rules so anyone can pick it up, making it suitable for families as well as being a great after dinner or coffee shop game. It also has a very small box which also makes Startups compact and lightweight as a travel game.

  • 3-7 players (best with 4)
  • 20 Minute Play Time
  • Easy to Pick Up (no complex rules)
  • Age 10+
  • Great family game
  • Great travel game

45 Company Cards (6 kinds)
70 Capital Chips
6 Anti-Monopoly Chips
Point Chips 3 kinds 4 of each
Game manual

We ship to all UK Mainland addresses. Shipping choices and charges are calculated by weight and size and we offer the following shipping options:

Small items / large letter size

Royal Mail 48: (delivery aim 2/3 working days but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £4.50

Royal Mail 24: (delivery aim next working day but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £6.00

Medium Parcels

Royal Mail 24: (delivery aim next working day but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £8.00

Royal Mail 48: (delivery aim 2/3 working days but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £6.00

Large Parcels

Royal Mail 24: (delivery aim next working day but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £12.00

Royal Mail 48: (delivery aim 2/3 working days but not guaranteed; fully tracked): £10.00

General

Any order over £75 is free delivery and will be shipped using a Tracked 48 service.

Delivery methods are auto-calculated at checkout and are dependent on size and weight.

Orders received by 1 pm will usually be dispatched same day. Note: We do not dispatch orders on Saturdays or Sundays.

We currently ship to the following countries / territories:

USA / Canada

Australia / New Zealand / Japan / Singapore / South Korea / UAE.

Mainland Europe (EU) / Norway / Switzerland / Iceland

Duty and Taxes

All overseas orders are currently shipped DAP (delivered at place.)

This means that the customer is responsible for any import duty, local tax and any handling surcharge by the shipping company.

Note : We do not charge UK VAT on export orders.

The current UK VAT rate of 20% will be removed from the order value at checkout if the delivery address is outside of the UK.

Please note, that if you refuse to accept the goods from our nominated courier for any reason other than clear and obvious damage to the box or shipping container or product, or do not provide the correct information necessary for delivery of goods and subsequently the products are returned to us, we reserve the right to charge a discretionary restocking fee of up to £10 per item.

Cost of Shipping

The estimated time of delivery for international parcels is 5 to 10 working days throughout most destinations worldwide. Some remote destinations however can take a little longer. 

Shipping charges are calculated by weight and size as follows:

Europe

Small items (up to 0.5 kg) - Royal Mail £15

Larger items (up to 2 kgs) Royal Mail - £20

U.S. | Canada | RoW

Small items (up to 0.5 kg) - Royal Mail £15

Larger items (up to 2 kgs) Royal Mail - £25

Over 2 kgs - UPS - £40 (USA only)

Cut off for processing via courier is 1 pm Mon-Fri for international delivery. Orders received after this will not be collected until the following working day.

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introducing

Oink Games

Founded in 2010, Oink Games is a Japanese board game publisher whose philosophy is to create simple yet sophisticated games that are easy to learn and fun to play. Oink Games' games are reknowned for their minimalist design, high-quality components and innovative gameplay mechanics. They are generally lightweight and easily transportable making them great after dinner, travel and family friendly games.

Japanese Board Games
Simple Creativity

Oink have won the affections of many gamers with their unique and creative gameplay mechanics which challenge players to think in new ways. The rules are generally simple which make them accessible to all levels of gamer and shows that simplicity is often the most fun route.

Unique and Engaging
Travel & Family Friendly Games

The component pieces give a premium feel despite the small size of the box and they are built to last. Oink’s trademark minimal design is elegant, colourful and playful, allowing for visually appealing games that are easy to understand.

This simplicity also leads in to the idea of social interactivity and many of Oink Games’ mechanics involve playful communication and interaction with other players. Fun to play and socially engaging in a good old fashioned kind of way. 

Spiel de Jahres

Award Winning

Oink have won numerous awards for their games and came runner up in the prestigious Spiel des Jahres for Scout in 2022.

Our selection at USTUDIO showcases the best of Oink games, giving experiences that are both accessible and challenging and enjoyable for a wide range of players.

Go to Oink Games

Oink Games | FAQs

Oink Games' philosophy is to create simple yet sophisticated games that are easy to learn and fun to play. Oink Games' games are reknowned for their minimalist design, high-quality components and innovative gameplay mechanics.

Everyone loves Scout! Arguably the most sophisticated gameplay from Oink's offering, Scout has great replay potential and is genuinely fun for entry level and hardcore gamers alike.

USTUDIO also recommends Deep Sea Adventure and StartUps although all of our selection are fun. Just depends on the type of game you are looking for :)

Oink usually caters for quite a young age through to adult, meaning they are great family friendly games. The details will say on each game, but generally they are designed for 8 years and up.

Oink Games are designed to be simple and fast moving with playtimes from 15-30 mins per game.

Oink Games have premium quality components meaning they are designed to be kept and replayed over and over. They are great filler titles or warm up games for gaming sessions and play equally well in a coffee shop or bar. We think you will be replaying these games for years.

Our Top Board Games Recommendations

Board games have seen a huge resurgence in recent times where they have become the social antidote to an often unsocial digital age. But you don’t have to stick to the classics (yawn), and you don’t have to fall out with your friends and family (I am speaking as someone who once cried and stormed out of the room over a game of Risk).

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