INKTensions: Preview of a Light Game of Bluffing, Deception and an Octopus

Bert
Jun 6
4 min read

Updated: Aug 13

INKTensions is the third game from Maka Games that include License to Krill and Hissy Fit. INKTensions is a fun game where players are building out the tentacles of an octopus in order to reach some seafood. It sounds easy and it is until the players start playing cards that change the cards others have already played. Players will try to bluff and outwit their opponents in INKTensions coming soon to Kickstarter.

Setup

The theme is strong with this game. Each player gets 9 cards (one per brain, did you know octopus have 9 brains?) but will usually play 8 of them (like the tentacles of an octopus) in a round. The game play lasts 3 rounds (octopuses have 3 hearts). To get the game setup give each player a set of 9 player cards. The backs of the cards are color coded to one color for each player.

Setup is pretty quick with Inktentions. First set out the food tiles based on player count. There are 9 food types and 6 tiles of each type. For example put 5 food types out (the whole pile of 6) if you are playing a two player game. These can be random or chosen, the rest of the food cards will be placed to the side in case any of the piles run out. Next the 7 Octobility tiles are shuffled and one for each player is revealed and placed out so all player can see them. Now the most controversial part of the game, choosing the first player. The rules say the smartest person goes first. I say go random. Anyway players are chosen there is a octopus plushie for the first player.

Game Play

Game play is simple. There are 7 kinds of cards in each players hand. There are 3 Hunt cards. Each player takes turns playing a card face down either next to a food pile or next to a card that has already been played next to a food tile. The backs of the cards look like an octopus arm. once the cards next to a food pile have reached out to the number of players plus two then it is capped off and can no longer have cards added to it. In the example of a two player game when the and reaches 4 cards it will be capped off.

The most exciting part of the game is revealing the octopus arm cards one at a time and figuring out who is able to hunt and who got thwarted

There are 7 kinds of cards that each player has to choose from. They all have the same cards at the start of the round. Ink, Sharks, Eel, Hunt, Hide& Hunt, Punch and Octobility. each card has a ability. If an Ink card is next to a shark card the shark card goes away. If a shark card is adjacent to any hunt cards they go away. Eel cards can remove one adjacent hunt card. The hunt cards are how the players collect the food tiles and consequently the points on them. Hide & Hunt is the same as Hunt with the exception of its immunity to Sharks and Eels. Punch and Octobility cards are played face up and in front of the player who played them and not added to any arm. Punch lets the player who played it to move a card from one uncapped arm to another uncapped arm (without peeking), this could even be their own card. Finally the Octobility card allows the player who played it to activate one of the revealed Octobility tiles and use its ability. The Octobilities allow players to gain points or have an unique ability or action. Once an Octobility tile is chosen it cannot be used until the next round.

The most exciting part of the game is revealing the octopus arm cards one at a time and figuring out who is able to hunt and who got thwarted. The players reveal the arm cards one arm at a time. Each card starting from the one closest to the food tile has its ability used. This part can be an emotional roller coaster as players reveal and remove cards from the arm to determine who can hunt and get one of the food tiles from the pile. The food tiles are a point salad. Each of the food tiles has a different method of scoring, for example if you have acquired a squid its worth 1 if you have an odd number or 2 if you have an even number. Each tile is different and some are a little more tasty than others but depending on a players strategy will depend on how fierce the competition is for each tile.

Thoughts

This is a very casual light strategy card game. It makes a good family game and a great game for a light game night. There is a lot of fun packed into this card game. The whimsy from the art and the plushie are sure to get the younger gamers in you life to the table. The plushie we had went missing for a week until our 5 year old let us know where they hid it. She also enjoyed playing the game with me out on our patio.

The concise rulebook and easy to learn rules make INKtentions a great addition to your collection or if you are new to games its a great place to start. The small box format makes INKtension a very portable game for you gamers on the go. Maka Games has been hitting it out of the park with their card games. I recommend also checking out License to Krill another hit from them.

Players: 2-4

Year Published: 2025

Recommended Ages: 9+

Time to Play: 20 minutes

Bert's Tabletop games was provided a review copy of INKtensions by Maka games. The game depicted here is a prototype copy of the game and the final copy may vary from what is depicted in this review.