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: reach the final and collect the most fans (points).

How a game works

1. Tournament structure: You play 7 matches against alternating opponents. The two best players meet in the 8th round.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 Challengers! Beach Cup – a stand-alone sequel that introduces new card sets, abilities and tournament elements. It can be combined with the base game (up to 16 players!) or played individually.

Our verdict: 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.