- Designer: Kaya Miyano
- Illustrator: Laura Michard
- Publisher: Happy Camper
- Players: 3-6 Players
- Playtime: 15 minutes
- Ages: 8+
Trio is a three to 3-6 player card game put out by Happy Camper. Trio was designed by Maya Miyano and illustrated by Lura Michaud. It plays in about 15 minutes and is recommended for players 8 and up. The artwork and colors used on the cards is reminiscent of the papel picado, or paper banners, used for fiesta celebrations. We found Trio a fun game to play that is easy to pick up and accessible to all kinds of gamers!
What’s In the Box?
- 36 Card (3 of each numbered 1-12)
- Instructions
Setup
Trio is easily set up by shuffling the cards, dealing each player the appropriate amount of cards based on total players, (9 for a 3 player game, 7 for a 4 player game, 6 for a 5 player game and 5 for a 6 player game) and placing the remainder of the cards face down spread out in the center of the play area. Boom! You are good to go!
Objective
The objective of Trio is to be the first player to collect a certain number of Trios, depending on your mode of play. There is a Simple Mode and a Spicy Mode. Players win in Simple mode if they collect 3 Trios. Players win in Spicy mode if they collect 2 connected Trios. But, in either Simple or Spicy mode, if one player gets the 7 Trio (all three 7 cards) it is an automatic win! In Simple mode, a Trio is any 3 cards that match (ex 3 cards of the same main number). In Spicy mode, a Trio is connected cards that match (ex 3 cards match the same main number or secondary number, listed on the bottom of the card). Spicy mode is considered the advance version of the game and it is recommended to play Simple mode first.
Gameplay
The player who most recently ate something with avocado in it goes first, and play continues clockwise. On a player’s turn, they are trying to find 3 of the same numbered card. They can go about this in one of two ways. First, a player may reveal a card from the middle by turning it over for all to see. Alternatively, a player may ask for any player at the table (themselves included) to reveal either their highest or lowest card, and place that card face up for all to see. The player will continue asking players to reveal cards in this way until they either reveal a card that doesn’t match the previous card or they complete a Trio.
Other things to keep in mind are that you can perform the same action more than one time (ex revealing a card from the middle or asking a player to reveal their highest or lower card), when you reveal a card from your own hard it has to be the highest or the lowest card, and if you are out of cards in your hand, you can still play by using the cards in the middle as well as your opponent’s cards).
Final Thoughts
Trio was a surprise hit for our table! I always get a little nervous with small box card games as they are not always fully fleshed out. However, there is no need for such concerns when it comes to Trio. The rule set is straight forward, making this an approachable game for players at all levels. As long as a player can count, they should be able to understand the game, though some little ones maybe need help from a grown up. Trio frequently gets added to my travel bag when we are going somewhere for the day and may have some down time. I hope you pick up and enjoy Trio as much as our game table does!
Additionally, it is worth pointing out that Happy Camper has a few games of this caliber and I recommend checking out their website for a little history on how they came to be.
Trio Game Unboxing Video
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some products may have also been gifted for review purposes. We only recommend products we love and believe will add value to your experience. Read more on our Business Conduct Page. Thank you for supporting our blog!
