The sunset outlines the silhouette of a pagoda in the distance. Enthralled by the aura of mystery surrounding the building, you decide to explore inside. Suddenly, a laugh, an unknown shadow and eyes looking at you with evil intentions come to life. To your surprise, you have awakened mighty Yokai that dwelt there!

What’s a Yokai, you ask? And why should be afraid? Let’s say they are bizarre apparitions, that could haunt you at night and can take so many different forms and have an erratic behavior depending on how you will treat them… Whatever you do, try to get rid of them.

Yokai Pagoda is a hand management card game, with a 100 cards divided into 10 Yokai types, in which players aim to have the fewest negative points after 3 rounds. On your turn, each round, leave offerings around the pagoda to try to gain the Yokai's favor. Play a card from your hand and put it on one of the two offering piles and apply one of the possible effects based on the type of Yokai and the number on the card. If after applying one of the three possible effects, you still have cards in your hand and you have not closed the round, it is the next player’s turn.

Unplayed offerings at the end of each round become negative points, as though they were unfulfilled promises. The player with the fewest negative points at the end of the game wins.

Yokai Pagoda is a game where all your choices matter. You might want to start with the tutorial to learn its tricks. Will you find a way to appease them and avoid their wrath?

https://boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?game=yokaipagoda

Our gratitude goes to Jacobo Rufete, the game designer, and the PIF Games crew for letting us add their game to the 2026 Summer of Games. And our thanks to pegoletech for the BGA port.

This was your Wednesday release.

Only 6 days until the end of the Summer of Games. Wherever you stand in your race to the trophies, take care and play fair…