Carl Chudyk is one of those designers whose name always promises something unusual. Panda Spin is no exception — it’s a trick-taking card game where the competition for each hand is combined with a clever card-flipping mechanic that boosts your cards’ power. Published by Muduko, the game takes us into the world of the Chinese zodiac, where a panda decides to join the other animals.
Gameplay
In Panda Spin, players aim to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible by winning tricks. Each card shows an animal and an element from the Chinese zodiac — plus the symbolic panda. What makes things interesting is that cards have two sides: white and blue. Losing a trick doesn’t mean total defeat; you flip your cards to their blue side, and their value increases. That’s the “spin” of the panda — sometimes a loss can turn into a strategic advantage.
Each of the five colors corresponds to one of the Chinese elements: Fire, Metal, Water, Earth, and Wood. Every element also has its own special power when flipped to the blue side — for example, Fire lets you discard cards, Earth triggers the Panda effect, Wood earns you Bamboo points, and Water allows you to use the card as a wild card in combinations.
The game unfolds over several rounds, with players competing in successive tricks. Each trick begins when the first player plays a combination — a single card, a set (two or more cards of the same value), a sequence, a formation (several sequences), or a bomb (four or more cards of the same value without the Water symbol). Subsequent players, in clockwise order, can beat the previous play with a stronger combination of the same type, play a bomb, use an element card, or pass.
When all but one player pass, that player wins the trick and discards their played cards. Those who passed have two options: if at least one of the played cards was on its blue side, they discard their played cards; otherwise, they flip their cards to blue and take them back into their hand.
If a player has no cards left after a trick (even if they had passed this round), they score points equal to the number of cards in the hand of the player who still has the most cards (up to a maximum of 7). Additional points are awarded for playing Bamboo and Panda symbols. The game continues until someone reaches at least 15 points.
Review
Panda Spin is an intriguing mix of hand management and trick-taking — without actually taking the tricks. Instead of earning points by winning them, you win by discarding the cards, moving closer to finishing the round, and the sooner you do that, the more points you gain from the player with the fullest hand.
The flipping mechanic completely changes the flow of the game: sometimes it’s worth losing a trick to make your cards stronger for the next ones. This intentional “loss for gain” can be a powerful strategy, setting up your hand to end the round swiftly.
On top of that, there’s a great variety of possible combinations — from simple singles to elaborate sequences and bombs — allowing you to strategically block opponents. A well-timed formation or a high-value set can stop others in their tracks and clear your hand in just a few turns.
That said, luck does play a noticeable role. You have no control over the cards you’re dealt or whether you’ll be able to respond to an opponent’s play that opens a trick. In unlucky cases, a player may find themselves unable to play anything at all, which can be frustrating.
Visually, Panda Spin looks fantastic — the artwork draws from Chinese motifs while keeping a fairytale-like charm. Interestingly, the illustrations don’t depict cute, cuddly animals; instead, they carry a slightly serious tone, more reminiscent of a tactical battle game than a whimsical zodiac tale. Still, the aesthetic fits well and doesn’t detract from the experience.
The game shines best with 3–4 players, where the competition for tricks and card effects really picks up pace. With just two players, it becomes a quieter, more strategic duel — still enjoyable, but missing some of the chaos and energy that make it truly engaging.
Summary
Panda Spin is a clever and refreshing choice for fans of unconventional card games. Beneath its simple rules lies a surprising amount of strategic depth, and the card-flipping mechanic offers an evolving hand management challenge. It’s a great pick for players who enjoy fast-paced card games with a unique twist.
Thanks to Muduko for providing us a review sample of the game.
