- BGG rating
- 7.0
Puzzle Strike Randomizer Cards
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,426
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Puzzle Strike Shadows
2012
Rules assistance for Puzzle Strike Shadows
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Puzzle Strike Shadows
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Puzzle Strike Shadows is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by David Sirlin and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
Expansions
About the game
Puzzle Strike Shadows is the standalone expansion to Puzzle Strike (3rd Edition). You can play it by itself or combine it with the base set. The expansion contains 10 new characters, 24 new puzzle chips, as well as: Panic Time rule to prevent games from going too long A 3-player and 4-player mode with no player elimination and that allows crashing your gems to whoever you want A 2v2 Team Battle Mode A Custom Clockwork mode to draft your own character Puzzle chips and character chips updated to ensure healthy competitive play in tournaments New components: game boards and screens Puzzle Strike is a card game played with cardboard chips instead of cards that simulates a puzzle video game such as Puzzle Fighter or Tetris. It's a deckbuilding game, which means you build your deck *as* you play the game. Every game is different because the bank starts with a different set of chips each time. Also, there are 10 characters to choose from in the base set, each with different gameplay. Between all that, there are over 411 MILLION starting conditions in a 4-player game, and even more if you include the expansion. A built-in comeback mechanic means that when you're on the edge of losing, you're also able to do even more combos than usual. You don't have to worry about shuffling cards because you just put your cardboard tokens in a bag and shake them up to shuffle! Plus, it’s pretty ballin’ to play a game with chips. Play it on your yacht, impress potential mates, etc. Though the game is fun even if you're terrible at it, it's also balanced for high level play by veteran asymmetric game balancer David Sirlin (Street Fighter HD Remix, Puzzle Fighter HD Remix, Kongai, Yomi, and Flash Duel). Integrates with: Puzzle Strike: Third Edition
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Sirlin Games
Questions and answers
Puzzle Strike Shadows supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Puzzle Strike Shadows is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Puzzle Strike Shadows for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Puzzle Strike Shadows has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Puzzle Strike Shadows belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Video Game Theme. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Puzzle Strike Shadows are: David Sirlin. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Puzzle Strike Shadows as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.