Sushi Go was one of the first board games I played (excluding Monopoly etc) so I have a soft spot for it. It's a great game for how simple it is. Dumplings are my favourite personally!
The nostolgia for the games that got us into the hobby is a sacred thing. My gateway game was Settlers of Catan as a teenager. Sushi Go really is a cute game! The great thing I forgot to mention about dumplings (or any of these) is to know the people you play with. If nobody ever grabs dumplings, then you have a shot at getting 3 points per card.
The thing about dumplings is that they become better than average at 4 (that is when they do what Tempura does at 2), which is a lot. Now the porblem with that is that at any point in the game people might make a choice between an Egg Nigiri and a dumpling, which means that reasonably they'll go for the dumpling since it's both 1 point and you block the dumpling collector from getting points, so 4 is a tall order to begin with imo. In a game with less players, maybe. But even then you'd have to be lucky to actually make it the deciding factor imo. Even if you pickup Chopsticks to make a powerplay to from 2 to 4, if 3 dumplings are in one hand for example (pick 1 the first time you get it, pick up Chopsticks before you get it another time, pick 2 the next time), that is also information your opponents can have and assumes that they are letting that happen. So while it's nice to not have the risk of getting 0 points, imo it's not a winning strategy. As for the tier list, i'd almost never pass a squid. 3 points for a single card with the possibility of my opponent having Wasabi is reason enough to autopick it for me. If you don't pick it, you can be fairly certain, that you won't see it again. But what if you get Wasabi and Squid in your hand ? Assuming it's the first turn and you don't have Chopsticks, which obviously would be the nuts (then again, who passes Wasabi AND Squid ?), i'd still pick the squid over the Wasabi. Why ? What are the chances that you'll get another squid ? Yes, it happens sometimes, but usually you'll be happy with a Salmon, making it 6 or 3/card. Worst case scenario you pick up the Wasabi and pass the squid, and the next player also got a Wasabi and now enjoys getting 9 points or 4.5/card. Gamble paid off and that is 3 points you now have to make up for, which is a lot to ask for imo, since those squids are not coming around, as mentioned. If it does, i bet that at some point earlier, somebody at the table made a blunder. That is why imo Sashimi is worth picking early, if you want to take the gamble. I might be biased on this, since i almost always play 3p and for the reasons mentioned above those Wasabi+Squid plays happen VERY rarely, making 3.33/card excellent. And even if my opponents take the Sashimi to block me, i am fine with that since that is also a 0 pickup for them. I'd still pick Squid over it though, but if there's neither Chopsticks/Squid/Wasabi, i am very happy to first pick Sashimi.
@SpaceMonkeyEntertainment You bring a compelling argument for picking Squid over Wasabi! I think you've sold me on that. If there is Wasabi and a squid, then I could be giving another player a Squid if I choose the Wasabi. I admit my hope in picking the Wasabi is that another player would go for Sashimi and leave me a squid. Of course, that wouldn't work with players like yourself, stealing my Squid before they go sashimi mode. The Wasabi also could be used to make your opponent defensive and grab the salmon/squid nigiri for 2/3 points for them instead of completing their 3rd sashimi or getting a commanding lead in desserts or Maki rolls.
Every time I think of dumplings in Sushi go I am reminded that somewhere on some remote continent in the world someone actually likes the dumpling strategy! Bold!
Excellent analysis. We found this game a hit in our house and wanted some more explanation and dissection . My 6 and 8 year olds love it and they love sushi too. Thanks for the video. Liked and subscribed!
@@BoardInTheHouseBGAplayer Yes, always first choice in my opinion. Might depend on player size and level of opponents though. The few times I take chopsticks and they get 9pts off squid feels really bad.
everyone has their favorites and I probably undervalued them in this video. I never seem to get them in practice anyways because tempura is a bit too good to be a last pick but I feel it is a bit risky as a middle of the round pick.
Sushi Go was one of the first board games I played (excluding Monopoly etc) so I have a soft spot for it. It's a great game for how simple it is. Dumplings are my favourite personally!
The nostolgia for the games that got us into the hobby is a sacred thing. My gateway game was Settlers of Catan as a teenager. Sushi Go really is a cute game! The great thing I forgot to mention about dumplings (or any of these) is to know the people you play with. If nobody ever grabs dumplings, then you have a shot at getting 3 points per card.
The thing about dumplings is that they become better than average at 4 (that is when they do what Tempura does at 2), which is a lot. Now the porblem with that is that at any point in the game people might make a choice between an Egg Nigiri and a dumpling, which means that reasonably they'll go for the dumpling since it's both 1 point and you block the dumpling collector from getting points, so 4 is a tall order to begin with imo. In a game with less players, maybe. But even then you'd have to be lucky to actually make it the deciding factor imo. Even if you pickup Chopsticks to make a powerplay to from 2 to 4, if 3 dumplings are in one hand for example (pick 1 the first time you get it, pick up Chopsticks before you get it another time, pick 2 the next time), that is also information your opponents can have and assumes that they are letting that happen. So while it's nice to not have the risk of getting 0 points, imo it's not a winning strategy.
As for the tier list, i'd almost never pass a squid. 3 points for a single card with the possibility of my opponent having Wasabi is reason enough to autopick it for me. If you don't pick it, you can be fairly certain, that you won't see it again. But what if you get Wasabi and Squid in your hand ? Assuming it's the first turn and you don't have Chopsticks, which obviously would be the nuts (then again, who passes Wasabi AND Squid ?), i'd still pick the squid over the Wasabi. Why ? What are the chances that you'll get another squid ? Yes, it happens sometimes, but usually you'll be happy with a Salmon, making it 6 or 3/card. Worst case scenario you pick up the Wasabi and pass the squid, and the next player also got a Wasabi and now enjoys getting 9 points or 4.5/card. Gamble paid off and that is 3 points you now have to make up for, which is a lot to ask for imo, since those squids are not coming around, as mentioned. If it does, i bet that at some point earlier, somebody at the table made a blunder.
That is why imo Sashimi is worth picking early, if you want to take the gamble. I might be biased on this, since i almost always play 3p and for the reasons mentioned above those Wasabi+Squid plays happen VERY rarely, making 3.33/card excellent. And even if my opponents take the Sashimi to block me, i am fine with that since that is also a 0 pickup for them. I'd still pick Squid over it though, but if there's neither Chopsticks/Squid/Wasabi, i am very happy to first pick Sashimi.
@SpaceMonkeyEntertainment You bring a compelling argument for picking Squid over Wasabi! I think you've sold me on that. If there is Wasabi and a squid, then I could be giving another player a Squid if I choose the Wasabi.
I admit my hope in picking the Wasabi is that another player would go for Sashimi and leave me a squid. Of course, that wouldn't work with players like yourself, stealing my Squid before they go sashimi mode.
The Wasabi also could be used to make your opponent defensive and grab the salmon/squid nigiri for 2/3 points for them instead of completing their 3rd sashimi or getting a commanding lead in desserts or Maki rolls.
Every time I think of dumplings in Sushi go I am reminded that somewhere on some remote continent in the world someone actually likes the dumpling strategy! Bold!
@@BoardInTheHouseBGAplayer Haha, I would like to amend my previous comment...
Excellent analysis. We found this game a hit in our house and wanted some more explanation and dissection . My 6 and 8 year olds love it and they love sushi too. Thanks for the video. Liked and subscribed!
Sushi is good! I proposed to my wife in a Sushi restaurant!
Squid is easily the best card in the game. Apart from that, great video!
🐙 🦑 is king! ... but would you pick it over chopsticks as your first pick in a round? I'm not sure I would but I'd definitely take it over Wasabi. 🥢🍜
@@BoardInTheHouseBGAplayer Yes, always first choice in my opinion. Might depend on player size and level of opponents though. The few times I take chopsticks and they get 9pts off squid feels really bad.
I like your chart @ 14:34
Thanks!
Personally tempura is better than salmon nigiri since it isn't a huge risk like sashimi but it gives good points
everyone has their favorites and I probably undervalued them in this video. I never seem to get them in practice anyways because tempura is a bit too good to be a last pick but I feel it is a bit risky as a middle of the round pick.