Sushi Go! Strategy Tips: Do’s and Don’ts

Sushi Go! is a solid entry for new players to get used to the card drafting mechanic. Once new players understand the mechanics behind the game, the actual execution of those mechanics becomes doubly important. Sushi Go! offers a lot of cards to sift through. What you’ll have to consider is that picking the right card can make a difference between winning or losing the game.

If you’re new to Sushi Go!, I recommend looking at the Sushi Go! how to play guide I’ve put together. Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to take a look at the game in detail. If you want it in video form, you can check it out on the My Board Game Guides Youtube channel. Otherwise, if you’re fine looking at it in text form, then read on!

Sushi Go! Do’s

1. Look at what your opponents are drafting:
In particular, look to see if they need to have sets completed, whether it’s a set of the 10-point Sashimi or a full collection of Dumplings. When you pay attention to the cards they’ve drafted, you might be able to find opportunities to deny them the cards they need to maximize their points from sets.

2. Aim for a card to point ratio above 2 if possible:
In Sushi Go!, the name of the game is efficiency. Every card you pick needs to either give you a strong advantage or deny your opponents from scoring a boatload of points. As you play Sushi Go!, try to score at least 2 points for every card you draft. If you can hit this goal, you’ll give yourself a very good chance at winning.

3. Balance your priorities between point scoring and denial:
Remember that when you play Sushi Go!, winning by 5 points is the same thing as winning by 1 point. If you’re in the lead, your goal should be to protect that lead, whether that’s by making sure you don’t come in last in the Pudding race or making sure that no one gets away with collecting oodles of points from Maki rolls or Sashimi cards.

Sushi Go! Don’ts

1. Don’t get tunnel vision over your own board:
Focusing on just you is the biggest pitfall you can make this game. If you’re just looking at your board and trying to maximize your own point values, you might let slip through a card or set of cards that can net your opponents more points than you. For example, that Sashimi might be worth 0 points to you, but 10 points to your opponent. Giving your opponent a 10-point card is like you losing 10 points. You’re not gonna win that way.

2. Get into fights that you can’t win:
It can be tempting to get into fights for collecting Dumplings or a high quantity of cards like Maki Rolls cards. However, doing so can be a double-edged sword. Remember that Maki Rolls are worth 6 points. If you feel like you can grab first place with 3 Maki roll cards, do it because you’re still average 2 points per card. Or if you’re the only one collecting Dumplings, then go ahead. Any more than that and you may just be over-investing on those cards and miss out on other point opportunities.

3. Neglect the puddings:
As you collect those Dumplings, the Tempura, and even the occasional Wasabi/Squid nigiri combo, you might be tempted to pass over the Puddings, those cards that really don’t have an impact until the end of the game. Forget about them at your peril, because if you suddenly find yourself having the fewest Puddings, you’ll be seeing a 12 point swing in someone else’s favor, which can cause you to lose the lead entirely.

Hopefully these tips will help you to build your strategy foundation for Sushi Go! and help you play better. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave your own tips in the comments section below so that other players can learn and get better at the game!