
Card Shark
On Quisicosas since 4 September 2026
Featured in the newsletter of
4 September 2026 (on Substack)
What it is about
CARD SHARK is a fast-paced, high-tension solo tabletop role-playing game where every card dealt brings you closer to a small fortune or a bullet under the saloon table. Starting with a modest Stake and a target on your back, you’ll push your luck through round after round of poker, dice, or whatever high-stakes game the table is playing. Play it straight and grind out a clean win, or cheat the pot using a risk-driven Tell mechanic to skew (just a tad bit) the odds in your favor. But move carefully: every underhanded move builds Heat . If the house catches you, or if Heat reaches its breaking point, you’ll trigger a deadly Showdown where surviving with your hide intact is the best-case scenario. WHAT’S INSIDE: Push-Your-Luck Solo Gameplay: Rules-light mechanics designed for fast, narrative-driven sessions that play out in 15 to 30 minutes. Dynamic Tension: Balance your rising Heat against a dwindling Stake as you decide whether to walk away while you're ahead or bet it all. Zero Prep Required: Grab a single six-sided die (1d6) and dive right in. Will you walk into the night as a Living Legend with heavy pockets, or get run out of town with empty hands?





