Wraith War
Play Wraith War free online. Bone beats Shade, Shade beats Flame, Flame beats Bone. Pick a card each round to outwit a ghost that grows sharper every duel.
How to Play Wraith War
A ghost sits across the table and challenges you to a duel of cards. There are three kinds of card. Bone beats Shade, Shade beats Flame, and Flame beats Bone. Each card also has a number of pips. When both cards are the same kind, the higher number wins the round.
You hold five cards and the ghost holds five. Every round, you both play one card at the same time. Two of the ghost's cards are always shown face up, so you can guess what it might play and pick a card that beats it. The winner of the round takes a point, and both players draw back up to five.
The first to five rounds wins the duel. Win a duel and a new one begins against a smarter ghost. Lose a duel and the game is over. The ghost starts out playing almost at random, and by the later duels it watches your hand and plays to beat you most of the time.
Every round won is worth points, and every duel won is worth many more. Both grow with each duel, so a long winning streak climbs the scoreboard fast.
Controls
Touch
- Tap a card in your hand to play it.
Mouse
- Click a card to play it.
Keyboard
- Number keys 1 to 5 play the card in that position, or use Left and Right to choose and Space to play. P or Escape pauses, M mutes.
Tips and Tricks
- Look at the two face-up ghost cards first. If both are the same kind, the card that beats that kind is almost always right.
- Keep a strong card of each kind for later rounds. Spending all your high numbers early leaves you weak at four rounds each.
- A tie of the same kind and number goes to nobody, so a low card is a safe throwaway when you have no good answer.
- In the later duels the ghost plays to beat your hand. Sometimes the least obvious card is the best one.
About the Game
Wraith War takes the oldest hand game in the world and adds numbers, a visible part of the enemy hand and a ghost that learns. Each round takes a couple of seconds, each duel a minute, and every choice is a small guessing game.
The cards glow bone white, shadow purple and fire orange, and the ghost bobs and grins when it wins. It plays well on a phone held upright. Your best score is kept in this browser and can go on the Top 10 board.
Wraith War FAQ
Which card beats which in Wraith War?
Bone beats Shade, Shade beats Flame and Flame beats Bone. Inside the same kind, the higher number wins.
Can I see the ghost's cards?
Two of its five cards are always face up. The other three stay hidden until they are played.
Does the ghost cheat?
No. It only knows what any player could know: its own hand and the cards you have shown. It simply makes the smart choice more often each duel.
What happens when I lose a duel?
The run ends and your score is final. Start again from the first duel against the easier ghost.
