忍のがっこう (Shinobi no Gakkō) (2023)

Overview

Shinobu no Gakkō, roughly, Shinobu School, is a climbing game where each player has two hands of cards and is adding and removing cards from a central tableau.

Players are dealt a hand of cards, and then divide, as they'd like between a closed hand they hold traditionally, and a face up hand on the table.

Two cards are dealt face up to the table that form the initial cards the players will add or subtract from. Players can play higher or lower cards than are currently on the table, and play them to that end of the column. Players must play at least the same number of cards as what is present at that end, but could play more. If one end of the column has more cards than the other, that end is "locked" and cards cannot be removed or added. As an alternate to playing, players can remove the last cards from either end of the column.

Each turn players get to take one of these actions (or pass) with both of their hands.

The first player to play all of their cards wins the round and is granted points; the other players lose points depending upon the sets left in their hands.

The person with the most points after a number of rounds wins.