Parents' Guide to
Jaipur: A Card Game of Duels
Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun adaptation of popular bartering board game.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Jaipur: A Card Game of Duels
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
In JAIPUR, the popular two-player game, opponents take turns drawing cards from a 'market' (a row of five cards that both players can see). Those can be drawn one at a time or in groups (exchanged for cards in the player's hand or from their stack of camel cards), which aren't counted toward the maximum you can possess. Collecting sets of the same card lets you exchange them for money/points -- and the player with the most cash at the end of the round wins. The strategy comes into play by deciding whether to hold onto a set in hopes of earning a higher profit with more of the same card versus making room in their deck. For example, camels can't be sold, but the player with the most at the end of the round gets bonus points. The game's campaign mode follows the same basic rule structure, though early matches only require one round instead of two to decide a winner.
Is It Any Good?
This strategy game is an example of a title that takes a basic play mechanic and executes it masterfully. The basic thrust of Jaipur is simple: collect cards and exchange them for points, but balance that against determining exactly when the right time is to exchange them. The gameplay is nuanced enough that it's something that's fun for both newcomers and veterans. Jaipur guides you through how to play without overwhelming you. And then it lets you figure out what play style works best for you. It offers a wide range of difficulty, meaning no one will every get frustrated because the game is too easy or hard. And, if you tire of the game's AI opponents and can't find someone to play against, the campaign steadily increases the challenge, while giving you a reward for success (in the form of a palace you can enhance). Unfortunately, the game's pass and play mode, for players in the same room, is a big buggy, though, and prone to crashes. And while the mechanic is wonderful, it doesn't evolve as you play, so user fatigue can set it eventually. Before that happens, though, you'll be enthralled and find yourself fighting the urge to play just one more match of Jaipur.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about strategy. Is it better to trade in a collection of cards now or wait and hope for a bigger bonus?
How are cultures where bartering is common place different than stores in the U.S.? Is one system better than the other? Why?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: November 13, 2017
- Category: Card Games
- Publisher: Asmodee Digital
- Version: 1.4
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 8.0 or later; Requires Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: May 20, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
You May Also Like...
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate