Startups | Draw & Discard Card Game

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