Apocalypse

Apocalypse is a trick-avoidance card game in which each suit represents one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Players must follow suit if possible, and under normal conditions the highest card wins the trick, but winning tricks is something to avoid. Each time a card is played, the matching Horseman token in the center is flipped. Once all five tokens are flipped, the Apocalypse is triggered: the current trick is reversed so that the lowest card wins, and the winner takes all cards in the trick. The tokens are then reset, and the cycle begins again. At the end of each trick, the winner keeps one card as a penalty. Two special cards add tension: the 5 and the 0. Playing a 5 allows a player to flip one Horseman token back, delaying the Apocalypse : but if you win a trick containing a 5, it is worth –5 points instead of –1. The game revolves around avoiding tricks, managing the timing of the Apocalypse, and offloading high-risk cards at the right moment. The box stands out with its golden foil, along with beautifully illustrated cards and large wooden tokens.