Diner

Behind the counter of a cosy little eatery, it is all about speed and a smile. In Diner you are a waiter trying to bring in the most tips. You take orders at the tables in your part of the room, collect the right plates and put them in front of your guests as fast as you can. And of course you want to do that just a little better than the other waiters. What makes Diner special is the way you play your turns. If you want to do something, you need an action token. As soon as you take an action, you pass that token on to your neighbour. Sometimes the tokens pile up in front of you and you can suddenly do several things at once. Other times you are left waiting and urging everyone else to hurry up, because those guests want to be served. It is busy, it is fun and everyone talks over each other. Even so, it never quite gets out of hand, because the tokens keep everything in balance. Diner once won the 54-Card Challenge from Dice Hate Me Games, a contest in which designers had to make a complete game using no more than 54 cards. Out of more than a hundred entries, Diner came out on top. A small game with a big smile, ready for a quick round in between.