Cycle Tricks 2026

In a contest of shifting strengths, three colors compete in an endless cycle of superiority. No color can remain dominant forever, and even the most powerful numbers can suddenly become weak. Every reversal changes the balance of power, challenging players to adapt their strategy and decide whether winning the next trick is actually worth it.

Cycle Tricks is a two-player, must-follow trick-taking game in which both suit superiority and numerical strength can be reversed during play. Three suits follow a rock-paper-scissors relationship, while cards of the same suit compete according to a numerical hierarchy that can switch between ascending and descending order. Playing a zero allows a player to reverse either hierarchy after the trick, changing the strength of the remaining cards without affecting their scoring values. Players collect the cards from tricks they win, but higher numbers carry negative points while lower numbers provide positive points. Over twelve tricks, players must anticipate reversals, manage their hands, and decide which victories are worth pursuing.