When deck-building games meet an auto-battler and the whole thing is wrapped up in a chaotic tournament mode, the result is something surprisingly fresh: Challengers! by 1 More Time Games (published by Z-Man Games).
The game was even nominated for Connoisseur Game of the Year in 2023 – and rightly so. We threw ourselves into the fray and report on why Challengers! is a real insider tip for game nights – especially in large groups.
What is Challengers!
Challengers! is a competitive card game for 1-8 people that feels like a small tournament with random battles. The special feature: The matches run automatically – so no pauses to ponder due to too much tactics – but the real game is in the deck management between rounds.
Imagine competing against ever new opponents with a wild deck of cards: Raccoons, knights, cyborgs, unicorns or sandworms – anything is possible. Your goal: to reach the final and collect the most fans (points).
How a game works
- Tournament structure: You play 7 matches against alternating opponents. The two best players meet in the 8th round.
- Deck building phase: Before each match, you draw new cards from one of six sets (e.g. “Park”, “Beach”, “Haunted House”) and can improve your deck. The cards have abilities, types and synergies.
- Auto-battle phase: You draw cards from your deck to beat the opponent’s card. Whoever is weaker loses the match. The battles are quick and automatic.
- Victory points & fans: Fans are awarded for victories. Whoever has the most fans after round 7 advances to the final.
That sounds simple – and it is. But there’s a lot of deck tuning going on under the hood: Which card suits my style? Which ability is strong depending on the situation? And when do I throw cards out of the deck?
What makes Challengers! special?
- Quick start: Few rules, simple processes – explained in 10 minutes.
- Short downtime: Matches run almost in parallel due to simultaneous play.
- Replay value: The card sets can be varied and combined – every game plays differently.
- Party feeling despite strategy: Despite deck building and synergies, “Challengers!” feels more like fun than mental work.
- Best with six or more players: Many games scale poorly – “Challengers!” really comes into its own with four or more players.
To store all the game material – cards, markers, playing fields and tokens – neatly, it is worth using the custom-fit insert from Feldherr. It not only keeps the box tidy, but also speeds up set-up enormously. Especially with many players and card sets, this saves the annoying pre-sorting – a real quality upgrade for frequent players!
Who is Challengers! suitable for?
- Perfect for larger groups (4-8 players) – also for mixed player types.
- Fans of entertaining deck-building games who are looking for something different.
- Tactics fans who want to optimize their deck but don’t want epic battles.
- Not ideal for 2 people – the game loses a lot of its dynamism.
Expansion: Challengers! Beach Cup
The following year saw the release of Challengers! Beach Cup – a stand-alone sequel that introduces new card sets, skills and tournament elements. It can be combined with the basic game (up to 16 players!) or played individually.
Our conclusion: Fresh, wild, accessible
Challengers” is not a classic deckbuilder – and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. It combines madness with system, chaos with strategy, while remaining accessible. Anyone familiar with games like Dominion or Star Realms will discover a whole new dynamic here. For us, “Challengers!” is a real surprise hit – especially if you have more than 4 people at the table.
