Trio Review: Memory and Deduction join the gaming board

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There are cards in hands and on the table. Your goal is to collect three with the same number. Your options are limited. You must rely on deduction, insight, and memory—and be very careful not to give away information to your opponents!

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Translated byAntonio Carlos

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Revised byAntonio Carlos

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Nana

Few party games have experienced a huge success as did Trio. Created by Japanese designer Kaya Miyano, the game released in 2021, when it was called Nana—a minimalist edition featuring victory conditions linked to the number 7 (hence the title, as Nana means "seven" in Japanese).

Nana
Nana

Its international release as Trio streamlined the rules, expanded the player count, and added extra game modes, turning it into a true global phenomenon. It has become so popular that, for some groups, Trio is addictive enough to steal the spotlight from other party games.

The game stands as an example of how a simple idea can transcend cultural boundaries and become a staple at family gatherings and parties—always bringing quick rounds, laughter, and a test of memory.

Let’s take a look at Trio!

Trio - Game Info

Trio is a 2-to-6 players game, ages 8+, by designer Kaya Miyano. The artwork is by Laura Michaud.

Game Box
Game Box

Trio was released in 2021 by Cocktail Games. Its main mechanics are set collection, memory, and deduction.

Since 2023 the game has consistently received nominations, but 2024 was its best year yet:

- it won Game of the Year at the As d'Or;

- it received a recommendation for the Spiel des Jahres;

- it won Best Overall Card Game (Judges' Choice) at the UK Games Expo.

Let's play Trio!

Playing the Game

You need to assemble a "trio"—that is, three cards of the same value—and there are two ways to do this: seeking information from opponents or revealing cards from the table. Each option has its pros and cons, as information will inevitably be made public. Use your powers of deduction and exercise your memory in this light, fast-paced, and fun game.

That is the premise of Trio!

Before setting up the game or exploring the different game modes, it is important to understand the anatomy of a card, as the entire game revolves around it.

A Trio card basically features its main number in a large format at the center, as well as in a smaller size in the top-left and top-right corners.

A Trio Card
A Trio Card

On some cards, there are smaller numbers in the bottom left and/or right corners. These are called “connected numbers”; they are linked to the larger central number and are used in one of the game modes.

A card and its connected numbers
A card and its connected numbers

Now it’s time to get to know the game modes!

Trio features two modes:

- Simple: where you need to form any three sets of three or the set of 7s;

- Spicy: involving two sets of three with connected numbers or the set of 7s.

Game Modes
Game Modes

Now for the game setup:

- shuffle and deal cards face-down to each player (the number of cards varies depending on the number of players);

- place the remaining cards—those not dealt to players—in the center of the table, face-down and close together;

A 3-Player Setup
A 3-Player Setup

After that, each player picks up their cards and arranges them in ascending order—from lowest to highest—without showing them to anyone.

You must also decide whether to play in Simple mode or Spicy mode. Finally, the person who most recently ate avocado starts the match, and play proceeds clockwise.

A player's turn is quite simple:

- reveal cards;

- check if the turn ends.

The revealing cards step is actually the core of the game. At this point, the player reveals up to 2 cards, one by one. They can do this in two ways:

- from the center of the table;

- from a player's hand (including their own).

If choosing to reveal from the center of the table, simply reveal any card you wish from the available ones in the center.

Revealing a card from the center
Revealing a card from the center

If the player chooses to reveal a card from a player's hand—including their own—they annouce if they want the reveal to be the lowest or highest number. Remember, it can be from an opponent's hand or yours!

Even if the player holds multiple copies of their lowest or highest number, they must reveal only one card (always the one at the end). The card is revealed on the table.

Revealing a card from a player's hand
Revealing a card from a player's hand

Here are three important details regarding revealing cards from a player's hand:

- you can perform the same action multiple times. For example: asking an opponent to reveal their highest number, then asking them again to reveal the highest number among their remaining cards;

- when a player reveals a card from their own hand, it must be the highest or lowest number (never a number from the middle of their hand);

- if a player has no cards left when it is their turn, they still play using the cards from the center of the table and from their opponents' hands.

Once that is done, it is time to check whether the turn ends or not! The player must stop as soon as two different numbers are revealed, otherwise, they continue until three identical numbers are revealed.

Below are two examples illustrating a turn ending early and another concluding with the formation of a trio.

In the example shown in the image below, the current player, Daniel, asks João to reveal his lowest number (which turns out to be a 3), then asks Letícia to reveal her lowest number (which is a 2). Daniel's turn ends at this point. The two different cards are returned to their owners' hands, and it is now the next player's turn.

A turn ends after revealing two different numbers
A turn ends after revealing two different numbers

In another example, shown in the following image, on Letícia's turn, she reveals a card from the center (a 2), then reveals her lowest number (a 2), and finally reveals her lowest number again (a 2). In doing so, she forms a set of three 2s, and it is now the next player's turn.

A turn ends with a trio!
A turn ends with a trio!

This is a turn in Trio!

Ending the Game

A player wins the game as soon as they have obtained:

- 3 sets of three (any): in Simple mode;

- 2 connected sets of three: in Spicy mode;

- the set of three with the number 7: in either game mode.

Strategy Tips

Trio is all about strategy, deduction, and memory—plain and simple!

First, always keep in mind that you can only ask opponents (or yourself) to reveal cards the highest or lowest value cards—and that you win immediately if you end up with the trio of 7s. With those two key rules in mind, let’s look at some strategic tips.

There are two simple, distinct paths to victory:

- win with the trio of 7s, OR

- win by completing 3 trios.

These strategies aren't mutually exclusive; for instance, you could form a trio and then complete the trio of 7s to win instantly. While that is possible, let’s examine the strategies separately.

Regarding the trio-of-sevens strategy, the first tip is to cool-headedly analyze the cards in your hand to decide whether to ask opponents to reveal their lower- or higher-value cards. And what is the real reason for this? Simple: to try to access the number 7 more quickly.

However, there are two strategic approaches:

- if you don't have the 7 in your hand: it is worth trying to eliminate the opponents' higher-value cards, since the number 7 is closer from the right side (after all, the deck runs from 1 to 12);

- if you do have the 7 in your hand: analyze whether the 7 is easier to access from the left side (lower-value cards) or the right side (higher-value cards); this way, you can start "eliminating" cards from one side to quickly reach the 7 and try to form the trio.

But pay attention to one detail regarding opponents: always ask them to reveal their higher-value cards, for the reason already explained.

Note that in both cases, consistently asking opponents to reveal their higher-value cards exposes them; consequently, other opponents will try to form trios using those numbers, while your strategy is simply to get them to reveal the 7 more easily so you can complete your winning trio.

If you choose to win with 3 sets—which is actually the most common approach—then you simply need to analyze your hand and decide whether to ask your opponents to reveal their highest or lowest cards, depending on what you hold.

In every case, the golden rules apply:

- use your memory; it is your best ally;

- don't ignore the cards on the table; they can help you.

The cards on the table are a double-edged sword; after all, you are revealing a card without any specific strategy. While it might benefit you, it could just as easily—and significantly—benefit your opponents. This differs from asking someone to reveal a specific card; when you ask for the highest or lowest card, the move is calculated and strategic. With table cards, however, it is a total gamble—you have no idea what will turn up or whether it will align with your strategy. In short, it could easily backfire. I recommend using this option only as a last resort.

With this in mind, stay alert to the opportunities in the game, devise and execute your best strategy, avoid making things easy for your opponents, and win by completing 3 sets.

Unboxing, Rules, and Gameplay Videos

Unboxing:

Rules:

Gameplay:

Pedagogical Tips

If you’re looking for a game that is accessible, language-independent, fun, fast-paced, and easy to both teach and learn, Trio is the game for you!

Trio is the kind of game you can explain in minutes; kids can jump right in and start having fun immediately. The game’s artwork really helps: large numbers and colorful cards make everything highly visible. Best of all, it’s language-independent—there’s absolutely no need for reading (other than the numbers, of course).

As soon as they receive their cards, kids get to practice organizing them, since the cards must be arranged in ascending order in their hands. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explain this concept—don’t miss out on it.

The highlight for the kids comes when they ask their friends to reveal their cards; it leads to amusing, "failed" attempts to hide a smile when they realize they hold matching cards and are close to completing a trio.

The other players keep a close eye on the revealed card to see if it’s something they need—curiosity is at its peak.

Flippping the cards on the table becomes a real event, filled with the "good tension" that comes from revealing something to everyone. Everyone gathers around, practically leaning over the table in anticipation of the card being revealed. It’s a wonderful moment. And the reactions are the best part: some are delighted to see a card they already hold—their excitement soaring—while others feel frustrated that it’s not the card they needed. It’s a mix of contrasting emotions and lots of laughter around the table.

Forming a Trio calls for a real celebration! Trio delivers excitement with every single move!

And what about memory? Well, the game constantly puts memory to the test, leading to questions like:

- “Who had that number 10 card again?”

- “Where exactly was that 5 on the table—in which position?”

It’s a blast watching the kids really rack their brains to remember and make the best choice.

Trio offers all that, but beyond the fun, kids get the chance to exercise important skills, namely:

- resource management: organizing and using the cards in hand;

- strategy: deciding whether to aim for three sets of three or the set of 7s;

- spatial awareness: memorizing the location of card values ​​on the table;

- decision-making: choosing whether to reveal the highest card, the lowest card, or a card from the table;

- logical-mathematical reasoning: working toward that set of 7s or three sets of three.

From an educational standpoint, Trio addresses resource management and fosters strategy, spatial awareness, decision-making, and logical-mathematical reasoning—all while being great fun!

I highly recommend adding Trio to your collection!

References cited

Spiel des Jahres

Organization

Spiel des Jahres

Spiel des Jahres is a German association that has awarded its annual Board Game of the Year prize since 1979. Its volunteer jury of German-speaking game critics selects winners intended for broad audiences. The organization also awards the Kinderspie
Cocktail Games

Organization

Cocktail Games

Cocktail Games is a French publisher of board and card games. Founded in 2003, it was created by Hjalmar Hach and Matthieu d'Epenoux. The company specializes in compact, accessible game formats and publishes French editions of titles alongside origin
UK Games Expo

Organization

UK Games Expo

UK Games Expo is an annual tabletop gaming convention held at the NEC in Birmingham, England. It brings together publishers, designers, retailers, players and fans of board games, card games, role-playing games and miniatures. The event includes an e
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