Trail

Take a hike up zig-zagging switchbacks to an alpine lake, through the mossy floor of an old-growth forest, or along the sand of a driftwood beach. In any case, you should plan ahead with the right gear and plenty of water.

"Trail" is a drafting game played in two phases: first pack your supplies, then trek. Earn points by trekking as far as you can up the trail, visiting landmarks, and having cards left in your pack when you turn back. It is one of the six games contained in PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest, a collection of games playable with a standard deck of cards published in a hardcover book. You can find the book at https://gameswell.shop/ or as part of our ongoing Kickstarter for two Pacific-Northwest-themed decks of playing cards, which will be printed by the U.S. Playing Card Company.

PNW: Card Games Inspired by the Pacific Northwest is a fully illustrated book of six new card games featuring modern mechanics such as deck building, drafting, worker placement, and more for fans of card games, board games, and the Pacific Northwest.

All you need is a deck of cards to hunt with a pod of orcas, forage for tasty mushrooms, brave the swift rivers of the salmon run, and more.

Created and illustrated by Pacific Northwest locals as an ode to card games and the beauty of the PNW, these six games are a great way to dive into a world of fast and fun games with a familiar set of components. 

Game design by Thomas Cardwell. Illustrations by Megan Wyreweden. Photos by Megan Shinner. Editing by Kelly Walsh-Cardwell.