Fortunately, designer Urs Hostettler generously agreed to answer a few of our questions, and I interviewed him in November about the game’s history. It has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and has been in-print continuously for 25 years.ĭespite the game’s wide appeal, little is known about its origins. Tichu has more than 100,000 logged plays on BGG (the most of any trick-taking or climbing game), and most major conventions have dedicated events for it. It is the highest-ranked trick-taking or climbing game on BoardGameGeek, and it has long been in the BGG Top 100, a rare accomplishment among older games. In a hobby that is often defined by the “cult of the new,” Tichu is still a perennial favorite among gamers, and it is arguably the hobby’s favorite traditional-style card game.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Tichu’s publication.
Game History by Chris Wray, Tichu Tips by Mary Prasad
