Yomi: Fighting Card Game (often shortened to Yomi) is a designer card game created by David Sirlin, inspired by Super Street Fighter II Turbo, which Sirlin also worked on.[2] “Yomi” is Japanese for “reading,” as in reading the mind of the opponent. The Yomi card game is designed to distill the high-level mind games from fighting game into a simple card game. It features asymmetric gameplay, and makes use of cards with multiple options.

Yomi: Fighting Card Game
DesignersDavid Sirlin
PublishersSirlin Games
Players2 (with game modes that support up to 6 players)[1]
Playing time~30 minutes
ChanceMedium
Age range10 and up
SkillsHand management, valuation, reading one's opponent

Products within the series

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There are two products within the Yomi series:[3]

  • The base set (featuring 10 characters)
  • The Shadows Expansion (featuring another 10 characters)

Additionally, there are special versions of those cards, such as the EX character cards,[4] and special edition decks, such as the G. Panda deck.[5]

Editions

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Yomi, including the base set and Shadows Expansion, has been through many iterations throughout its lifetime, and is currently in its second edition.[6]

The first edition of Yomi was made available in 2011.

Yomi second edition, an update of the first edition, features:

  • Several new game modes (including a 2 vs 2 and 3 vs 3 team battle, a solo mode against an automated opponent,[6] and a 2 vs 1 mode[1])
  • Small changes to character cards and some game mechanics[6]

The second edition was first made available for purchase via a Kickstarter campaign ahead of retail sale.[7]

Online version

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In addition to being playable with physical cards, Yomi can be played online against human opponents or the "yomibot" AI via an iOS app, or on Steam.

Reception

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Jamie Salmon writing for the Nottingham Evening Post likens a turn of Yomi to a game of rock paper scissors including aspects of "second-guessing mind games"[2]

Matt Thrower of Pocket Gamer called the mobile game "a world first in genre blending".[8] He also noted the complexity of the game.

Kelsey Rinella of Pocket Tactics noted that the breadth of characters meant the game could take a long time to master, but allowed players to choose how they approached the game, also noting it felt more like playing a fighting game than expected.[9]

Chris Carter of TouchArcade wrote: "Sirlin Games has done a great job of making sure everything’s balanced, and just playing from the base game is plenty competitive."[10]

Setting

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Yomi is set within and features characters from the Fantasy Strike universe created by David Sirlin.[11]

Gameplay

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The objective of Yomi is similar to that of competitive fighting games like Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The first player to bring their opponent to 0 hp wins.

There are 5 types of cards available:

  • Attacks - Beat throws and slower attacks. Loses to blocks and dodges.
  • Throws - Beat blocks and dodges, often causing a knockdown. Loses to attacks.
  • Blocks - Beat attacks and draw a card. Loses to throws and cross up attacks.
  • Dodges - Beat attacks and allow for a counterattack. Loses to throws.
  • Jokers - Beat attacks and throws. Loses to blocks and dodges.

Turn Sequence

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Play is simultaneous for both players.

  1. Draw Phase (skip on first turn)
    • Draw a card
  2. Combat Phase
    • Play a face-down card
    • Reveal combat cards simultaneously
    • Determine combat winner
    • Loser can play face-down Joker to avoid more damage, or a bluff card, or discard their combat card to signify they're skipping this step
    • Winner plays combos if applicable
    • Reveal and discard Joker/bluff card
    • Discard remaining combat cards at end of combat
  3. Power Up Phase
    • Discard pairs, 3-of-a-kinds, or 4-of-a-kinds to search for Aces.
    • Search for more Aces if you hit with a chain combo this turn.

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Rulebook". sirlin.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b Salmon, Jamie (13 Feb 2015). "Attacks on the cards: GAMES". Nottingham Evening Post. ProQuest 1654981930.
  3. ^ "Sirlin Games - Yomi". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08.
  4. ^ "Sirlin Games - A fighting game in card form with 20 characters. Can you read the mind of your opponent?". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
  5. ^ "Sirlin Games - A Blivand take on Yomi". www.sirlingames.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
  6. ^ a b c "Yomi (Second Edition)".
  7. ^ "Yomi Description". kickstarter.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  8. ^ Thrower, Matt (Apr 28, 2014). "Yomi". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  9. ^ Rinella, Kelsey (18 Apr 2014). "Review: Yomi". Pocket Tactics. Archived from the original on Jul 19, 2017. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  10. ^ Carter, Chris (July 11, 2014). "'Yomi' Review – A Fighting Card Game". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
  11. ^ "Fantasy Strike". www.fantasystrike.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10.
  12. ^ "The Dice Tower - Top 100: 11-20 (2011)". www.dicetower.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28.
  13. ^ "Sirlin.Net - Website Login". sirlingames.squarespace.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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