For ages I have been after a card game that meets very specific requirements. It must be small enough to fit in a pocket – no extra pieces or whatnot, meaning I can bust it out when and where. It must have the option to play single-player. And finally, it must be obscure or stylish enough to ensure that when I play it I feel like I’m in on some great smug secret. I appreciate this last point is not endearing.
Anyway, Bandido! Sweet Bandido! Bandido is a lovely compact card game from Helvetiq, which I discovered over half-term. It fits in a very small box and is playable with elegant cards which are all a little thinner than normal playing cards. Hold them in your hand and it’s a bit like holding a small cardboard coffin – perfect, it turns out, for such a claustrophobic treat.