Karmaka cover
2016BGG rank #3,606

Karmaka

by Eddy Boxerman, Dave Burke · Hemisphere Games

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Players2–4
Time25–60m
ComplexityLight
Age13+

About the game

What is Karmaka?

From the creators of Osmos comes Karmaka, a competitive card game that plays out over multiple lives. Karmaka is a tactical card game set in a karmic universe. Players begin the game as lowly Dung Beetles. In life after life (hand after hand) they climb their way up the Karmic Ladder, racing to see who will achieve Transcendence first! During each of your lives you'll be working towards three ends: Score enough points to climb the Ladder and keep up with your rivals. Stash a good selection of cards to your Future Life. This will become your opening hand next life. Play cards for their abilities to help yourself or to hinder others. But what goes around comes around. A key tension in Karmaka is that after playing a card for its ability, a rival may take the card into their Future Life. Your actions may come back to haunt you in the next life... Score points to ascend while sowing the seeds of your next life, and – if necessary – sabotage your rivals. But remember, what goes around comes around, and your actions have consequences in this life...and the next.

How it plays

Mechanics

Deck, Bag, and Pool BuildingHand ManagementOpen DraftingSet CollectionTake That

On the shelf

Categories

AnimalsCard GameReligious

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

  • How do setup and the first turn work in Karmaka?
  • When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
  • How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?