Blaze is a card game built on Durak, the well-known Russian classic. Players race to get rid of their cards, and the player who collects the most feathers wins. The theme follows a hunt for the magical Firebird in a dark, mysterious forest.

How it plays

On your turn, you play together with the second next player, so alliances keep changing. Challenge the next player by laying down cards of the same number, and they can reject them by playing higher cards. You and your supporter can extend the challenge by adding more cards of any number that are already in play. If the challenge succeeds, the challenged player takes all played cards into their hand; if not, all played cards are removed from the game. Once the draw pile is empty, it becomes a race to empty your hand first.

Key features

• 3-5 players, ages 10+, 15-30 minutes
• Part of a card game series with Spicy, Coyote and Anansi
• Green metallic print on the box, with card backs that shimmer in rainbow colours like the firebird
• Illustrated by Russian artist Nadezhda Mikryukova, who drew the firebirds and decorative frames in a classic illustration style