Official Sushi Go! Rules

Last Updated on September 9, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Sushi Go! is a fast-paced card drafting and set-collection game for 2 to 5 players. Players compete to create the best combination of sushi dishes over three rounds, scoring points for different sets and strategic card combinations. The game encourages both planning and tactical decisions, making it ideal for casual gamers and families alike.

Sushi Go! card game box

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How to Play Sushi Go!


Components

  • 108 Sushi Cards including:
    • 14 Tempura
    • 14 Sashimi
    • 14 Dumpling
    • Sushi Rolls: 12×2, 8×3, 6×1
    • Nigiri: 10 Salmon, 5 Squid, 5 Egg
    • 6 Wasabi
    • 4 Chopsticks
    • 10 Pudding
  • 10 Score Cards
  • 5 Train Cards & 5 Tray Cards
  • Rules Booklet

Players use train and tray cards to track scores by sliding and rotating the tray card on top of the train card.


A photo shows the "Sushi Go!" card game set out on a wooden table. The game comes in a black tin with cartoon sushi characters on the lid and is labeled "Sushi Go!: The Pick and Pass Card Game."  Around the tin, several cards are fanned out, showcasing various types of sushi illustrations. The card on the top left has a single piece of what appears to be a nigiri with a shrimp on top. A card on the right shows a pair of chopsticks holding a single shrimp tempura, and it says "CHOPSTICKS SWAP FOR 2". The game is designed for 2-5 players and is for ages 8 and up. The tin itself is labeled "GameWright"

Game Setup

  1. Shuffle Cards: Shuffle all sushi cards thoroughly and place the deck face-down in the center of the table.
  2. Set Up Player Areas: Each player places one train card with a tray card on top in front of them to track their score.
  3. Determine Dealer: Choose one player to deal the cards each round.

Gameplay

Rounds

Sushi Go! is played over three rounds. Each round consists of players drafting cards from their hands, revealing them simultaneously, and passing the remaining cards.

Card Deal per Round:

PlayersCards per Hand
210
39
48
57

Playing a Round

  1. Choose a Card: Each player selects one card from their hand secretly.
  2. Place Face-Down: Place the chosen card face-down in front of you.
  3. Reveal Cards: Once all players have chosen, reveal the cards simultaneously.
  4. Pass Hands: Pass the remaining hand to the player on your left (or right if using variant rules).
  5. Repeat: Continue selecting, revealing, and passing until all cards have been played.

Tip: Keep similar cards grouped together for easier scoring at the end of each round.

A graphic illustration for the card game "Sushi Go!". The image shows a collection of cute, anthropomorphic sushi cards arranged in two rows. The top row features six different cards, including a bottle of soy sauce, a single sushi roll, a cup of chopsticks, sashimi, tempura, and a pudding dessert. The bottom row displays more nigiri and sushi roll cards, with some containing faces and others not. Below the cards, a large bold text says, "Pick your dish & pass to the left!". Three oversized sushi characters—two nigiri and one pudding—are placed at the bottom of the image, with one of the nigiri and the pudding having faces. The background is red with a subtle leaf pattern.

Special Cards

Wasabi

  • Placing a Nigiri on top of a Wasabi card triples its point value.
  • Only one Nigiri per Wasabi card.
  • Players can have multiple Wasabi cards but must place a Nigiri on the next Wasabi immediately if available.
NigiriNormal PointsWith Wasabi
Squid39
Salmon26
Egg13

Chopsticks

  • Allows a player to take two cards in one turn.
  • To use: choose one card normally, call out “Sushi Go!”, then take a second card.
  • Place both face-down in front, reveal with everyone else, then put the Chopsticks back into your hand to pass along.
  • Only one Chopsticks card can be used per turn.

Scoring After Each Round

Players score the cards they have collected, except for Pudding (scored at game end).

Sushi Rolls

  • Count the number of icons on your Sushi Roll cards.
  • Most icons: 6 points
  • Second most: 3 points
  • Ties split points evenly; no points for remainder.
  • Must have at least 1 Sushi Roll card to qualify.

Tempura

  • A set of 2 Tempura cards = 5 points.
  • Single Tempura = 0 points.
  • Multiple sets may be scored.

Sashimi

  • A set of 3 Sashimi cards = 10 points.
  • Less than 3 = 0 points.
  • Multiple sets may be scored.

Dumplings

  • More Dumplings = more points:
DumplingsPoints
11
23
36
410
5+15

Nigiri & Wasabi

  • As described in the Wasabi section above.
  • A Wasabi card without Nigiri = 0 points.
  • Chopsticks = 0 points.

Before Starting a New Round

  • Adjust tray cards to reflect the new total score.
  • Discard all played cards face-up except Pudding cards, which remain in front of players.

End of the Game

After three rounds, ignore any remaining draw deck cards. Score Pudding cards:

Pudding Scoring

  • Most Pudding = 6 points (split evenly if tied).
  • Least Pudding = -6 points (split evenly if tied).
  • In 2-player games, no negative points for Pudding.

Winning: Player with the highest total score after three rounds wins.
Tie-Breaker: Most Pudding cards.


A hand holds a fanned-out selection of cards from the "Sushi Go!" game. The cards show various sushi and dessert items with cute faces, including a sushi roll, a dumpling, tempura shrimp, and a pink pudding with a strawberry on top. The "Sushi Go!" game tin and other cards are visible on the wooden table in the background.

Variant Rule – Pass Both Ways

  • Round 1 & 3: Pass hands left.
  • Round 2: Pass hands right.

Quick Reference: Scoring Summary

Card TypeScore
Sushi RollsMost 6, Second 3, Split ties
TempuraSet of 2 = 5
SashimiSet of 3 = 10
Dumplings1=1, 2=3, 3=6, 4=10, 5+=15
NigiriSquid 3, Salmon 2, Egg 1
WasabiTriples next Nigiri
ChopsticksUse to pick 2 cards
PuddingMost 6, Least -6 (2P ignore)

FAQ – Sushi Go!

Can I play Sushi Go! with 2 players?

Yes. Deal 10 cards per player. Pudding points for least cards are ignored.

What happens if multiple players tie for most Sushi Rolls?

Points are split evenly; any remainder is ignored. Second-place points are not awarded if tied for first.

Can I use multiple Wasabi cards?

Yes, but each Nigiri may only be placed on one Wasabi card at a time. Plan strategically.

How do Chopsticks work?

Chopsticks allow you to take a second card on a turn. Call “Sushi Go!” before revealing. Only one Chopsticks may be used per turn.

What is the best strategy for Dumplings?

Collect as many as possible for exponential scoring. However, consider the opportunity cost of other high-value se

When do I score Pudding?

Only at the end of the game after all three rounds.

What if all players have the same number of Pudding cards?

No points are awarded or deducted for Pudding in that case.

Can I organize my cards for easier scoring?

Absolutely. Group cards of the same type together for clarity and quick scoring.


Strategy Tips:

  • Pay attention to the cards being passed around to anticipate what other players might collect.
  • Consider both short-term gains (scoring points in the current round) and long-term strategies (completing sets or denying points to opponents).
  • Wasabi can be a powerful tool for boosting Nigiri scores, but use it strategically.

That’s the basic gameplay of Sushi Go! It’s easy to learn, but there’s enough strategy to keep it interesting for players of all skill levels. Enjoy!

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