とりてこ (Torite Co)

Torite Co (Trick Taking by Coffee Ritokon Blend) is a must-follow team-based trick taking game where the goal is to brew as much coffee as possible because your wage depends on it!

The setting is a popular cafe, and the players divide into two teams to brew coffee. Brewing more coffee than the opposing team is the winning condition of this game.

In Torite Co, players will always be divided into two teams. If you play with 4 or more people, you may not know know who your teammate is (due to identity concealment).

Therefore, you can unintentionally help the opposing team, or there may also be situations where teammates drag each other down.

In addition to the identity concealment element, in the case of 4 and 5 players, it can be an irregular team structure (1 to 3 or 2 to 3). If it becomes one-on-three, it may be difficult to win on one side, but the sense of accomplishment when you win will be higher than when you win 2 vs 2…

—description from the publisher (translated)

The 3 main wrinkles of this game:

The secret teammate component is similar to Doppelkopf where the “part-time leader” calls out a specific card to indicate that the player with that card is now on their team (this player does not have to reveal who they are). The leader also chooses the Trump suit for the round.

Tricks can be worthless or count for multiple points, as only Coffee Cards (8-A) count for points.

2 is considered the highest number (still lower than A and T) when the trick is entirely comprised of the same suit.