Highlights: This game is worth it, well thought out, anybody can play and enjoy it, can be set up for strategy or easy play, always makes a hit at parties, and even little kids can play (WITH adults) and everybody can have fun. Included in box: clear, well written rules, a "menu" board, cards, point-keeping playing pieces, and a useful card sorter at the bottom of the box. Sushi Go Party is the next game out after Sushi Go. At first glance we avoided buying this as we thought it looked like an empty money-grabber sequel with no real additions. This was FALSE. If in doubt between Sushi Go and Sushi Go Party - buy Sushi Go Party. We own Sushi Go, and it's really great, but Sushi Go Party includes Sushi Go and has fantastic additional gameplay, endless options, fun, and strategy and/or easy play (depending on cards chosen for an individual game). The main differences: Sushi Go includes a deck of cards which you deal from three times (three rounds in each game). Sushi Go Party includes several varieties of cards that CAN be included, but the main difference in game play to the original is that the cards in the deck chosen for a three round game is SHUFFLED in between rounds. SG Party includes a game board that helps you keep count of points gained (necessary for a few of the cards during a round, such as Uramaki). The game board acts as both a score keeper and a menu. Points are shown by moving a colorful mini soy sauce around the numbered blocks around the edge of the board. The "menu" aspect is shown by the representational cardboard cards put in the middle of the board - these are the cards that will be in play through the three rounds of a single game. The cards are basically divided into types of cards, and the menu helps you create your own playing deck types. The manual lists some game types that are advised, such as original (Sushi Go) but you can invent your own - we've played with no desserts, for example. Cards are broken up into types and a certain number of these are advised per game: 1 Maki per game, 3 appetizers, 2 Specials, 1 Dessert. Cards include: Nigiri; Maki: Maki, Uramaki, Temaki; Standard Sushi Go Appetizers: Dumpling, Sashimi, Tempura New Appetizers: Edamame, Eel, Onigiri, Miso, Tofu; Specials: Chopsticks, Wasabi, Menu, Takeout Box, Soy Sauce, Spoon, Special Order, Tea Desserts: Pudding, Green Tea Ice Cream, Fruit If too many cards are overwhelming at first, and you've never played Sushi Go, play a practice round with only nigiri cards to start seeing how play works. Pick one card, pass your hand, everyone flips their chosen card. Once everybody gets this, add in new cards. Basically each card has it's own rules for play, and as you add in new cards it can get more complex with more strategy. Our little one has won just playing cards he liked, though, so don't discount the kids. Most of the cards have pretty easy rules printed on the cards themselves but it doesn't require reading to play. I wouldn't advise playing with a few of the specials cards (edamame and spoon cards for example) with little ones though. We love this game and play it over and over. Adults love it. Kids love it. And it's fun to play with even a mixed crowd of kids and adults. My kids and nieces (ages four and up) can play. That's quite a bonus for a game. Teach the card types one at a time and even little ones can play - we've successfully taught a three year old to play basic Sushi Go. If you don't have room for many games in your house, go for this one. You won't regret it. Highly advised for adults and kids alike!
