Accessories

Mixed opinion, but overall fun!
My fiancee and I are big card gamers. We love Quiddler and Five Crowns, so thought we'd try this one. Overall it's fun and challenging. However, occasionally it can be a little overwhelming and if one person playing "gets" how to bid a little better the result can be a very uneven playing field. We're getting there though!

Very fun, interesting game
We had a lot of fun playing Xactika. It sounded like it might be hard to pick up, but it was a breeze. It reminds me of spades, but with a more interesting strategic element to it. I highly recommend it.

Great card game
Fascinating and fun game. The dynamics and strategies change a lot based on the number of people playing (up to 8 players). Takes playing a time or two to get the feel of the game, but well worth the effort. Good instructions, and a set of "helper" cards included so players can keep track of the probabilities (though they don't call them that). My only complaint is that the cards are a heavy paste board that doesn't wear very well if you play a lot (and we have been). Highly recommended game for those who like Wist, Hearts and the like.

An original card game which can put you in control
This is a phenomenal card game. In a elegant, subtle way Xactika has give you more control of the hand you're dealt than has ever been possible in a bidding card game. One way to think about the cards is that each one has four suites on it, and you can play any one of them. The bidding card tells you the chances of other cards having the suit you chose, so you can decide whether playing it will win or lose the trick for you. You'll want this extra edge since you have to make your bid EXACTLY to get the points you bid. Take advantage of it - it's not what you're dealt, but how you play your cards that will decide who wins.

This seems familiar
Amazon[.com] recommended this game for me, based on the fact that I love the game Set. Unfortunately Xactika bears a strong resemblance to "10 to 1," a game played with a normal deck of cards. If you already know how to play "10 to 1," Xactika may seem derivative. After trying Xactika once or twice, we threw it in the drawer and just played "10 to 1" instead.