This review is a bit of a throwback, both because this is genuinely a game that fits in your pocket, but also because of the nostalgia I felt when I started playing, going all the way back to games like Dig Dug, Snake, and even that one 3D Pipes screensaver that was on everyone’s PC for a while in the 1990s. I’m talking about Bandido, by Swiss company Helvetiq, a simple card game that was made in 2016, that is enjoyable specifically because it is so simple. This is a co-operative game for up to 4 players (which can also be played solo) in which players create, and then block off, tunnels to prevent the titular “Bandit” from escaping his jail cell. In 2020, the creators took full advantage of pandemic mania when they offered a print and play version (for free) that replaced the Bandit of the original game with a cartoon virus, and the flashlights at the end of the “blocked” tunnels with visual messages like “wash your hands”, “stay home”, “see a doctor”, “cover your sneeze” and “stay 6 feet apart”. There’s also a new game “Bandida” (not reviewed here) which adds a “Bonnie” to the original game’s “Clyde”, creating a competitive option for those who don’t love co-op games.
Bandido consists of a small box containing 69 tunnel cards, 1 “mega card” (a double thick jail cell start point that offers either 5 or 6 exits), a folded instruction sheet and a suggestion to go to the Helvetiq website for a video demonstration of the rules. I will warn you though, that the Helvetiq website (originally written in German, with an English translation) is difficult to navigate, and I never did find that promised video. However, there were plenty of reviews and demos elsewhere on the internet for those who need help. Maybe it’s because the game was created in Switzerland for an international market, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that, other than the rules sheet (in English and French for my copy), the game is completely language independent. There isn’t a single word on any of the cards, nor does there need to be, which allows it to be played by all ages, all education levels, as long as one person is able to explain things.
The game is simple to learn and easy to play; but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is completely without strategy, or that it’s a game you’ll always win. In fact, there’s more than one comment on the game’s BoardgameGeek page bemoaning “has anyone ever won this game?”. Although I think that some of that may have been due to a misunderstanding.
But let’s backtrack a bit here. As I’ve said before, Bandido is a co-op game, where instead of competing against each other, players are concentrating on cutting off the bandit’s escape routes. Bandido isn’t a character who moves around; the bandit is hypothetically in every tunnel at any time. The game starts with only one card on the table: the Super Card, the bandit’s jail cell with either 5 or 6 exits depending on if you want Easy Mode or Normal Mode. Each player draws 3 cards, and starting with the youngest player, they take turns playing one card to create, and eventually block, tunnels. New tunnel cards can only connect to previous tunnels, and a tunnel cannot start or end in the “dirt”. After playing a card, the player draws one card. If it is impossible to play any of the cards in their hand, the player must discard all three cards “under the deck” and draw three new cards. This is an important point to remember, it isn’t a choice. If you CAN play a card, you MUST play it, even if it helps the bandit. Another often misunderstood point is the planning aspect of the game. The rules state “Since Bandido is a co-operative game, players should discuss the best way to proceed; but beware, you’re not allowed to reveal your cards to other players directly.” Based on what I’ve seen online, however, many people are interpreting this as “no table talk at all” which would make the game much more difficult.
Eventually, the tunnel network will grow in both size and complexity, making the game something of a “reverse Tardis”, tiny in the box, but huge once you get it on the table. There are two ways that the game ends. Either every tunnel is confirmed to be blocked (in which case you win), or every card has been played. If there is any open tunnel at the end of the game, then Bandido wins, and the players lose. Personally, I think it would be a good idea to house-rule an option where the game ends immediately if it is obvious that a tunnel is impossible to block.
As with many games that fit in your pocket, this is a low complexity, quick play game that probably wouldn’t be the sole focus of a games night. Unless, like me, you play several games back to back, chasing that elusive win. The biggest complaint I have about Bandido is the table sprawl. Not only could any card you play end up going off the edge of the table, but you may also need to move the whole tunnel network around the table to make room. If you have a large table, Bandido would make a good appetizer game while you are trying to choose the main game of the night, or a break between heavier games. I would also recommend it as a game for kids, especially if you are working on concepts like spatial awareness, problem solving, and planning. Try this game if you are looking for a game that is more fun than you’d expect, and equally fun whether you are alone or with friends.
Helvetiq can be found online at helvetiq.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/helvetiq.
