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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
The stage is lit, the actresses enter, and the trump suit is never what you expect.
What it's about
The trick-taker where the trump suit is decided by the stage
Onstage is a trick-taking card game set in the Vietnamese opera. Your goal: recruit the best actresses for your company, winning tricks and taking home the most valuable tokens.
The central mechanic that distinguishes it from everything else: the trump suit changes during the game, determined by the actresses currently on stage. Special cards with values 1, 4, and 7 of each suit allow you to manipulate who is on stage — and thus the trump suit itself — even in the middle of a hand.
In just 36 cards, there's more dynamic strategy than you'd expect. Designed by Rolling Wizards, a Vietnamese studio, with scenic illustrations inspired by classical Vietnamese opera, Cải Lương.
A trick-taker where planning the trump is impossible — and that's exactly the point.
The secret of Onstage in one line
Every trick is a decision: do I take the actress who is worth more, or the one who changes the suit in my favor?
From the game experience
Onstage / Sáng Đèn
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat you control
The heart of the game in four elements
36 cards, 4 suits
Values from 1 to 9 for each suit. Each card has its role — special cards at values 1, 4, and 7 change the stage and with it the rules of the game.
The stage
The actresses on stage determine the active trump suit. The reserve row changes every trick. There is never a fixed suit — this is the twist that makes Onstage unique.
Performer tokens
Three levels per suit: lead actress (3 pts), supporting (2 pts), and featured (1 pt). Win the trick in the right color — or you take nothing home.
Team variant
With 4 players, it's 2 vs 2. Scores are summed at the end of the round — but you can't communicate your cards. Reading your partner's play becomes crucial.
When the suit changes in the middle of the trick you were winning, Onstage has already captivated you.
🃏Recommended sleeves1 size · 36 cards total
📖RulebookEnglish · Official PDF
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
The curtain rises
Cards are dealt, the stage is set with the first performers. You look at your hand: quite a bit of pink, almost no green. Then you look at the stage — the active trump is green. The plan is born in the very first second.
The special card changes everything
Someone plays a 4. In an instant, one performer leaves the stage and another enters from the queue. The trump was pink — now it's blue. Whoever was about to win the trick finds themselves with the wrong card in hand. A moment of silence, then laughter.
You win the trick but get nothing
You win the trick — but the performers on stage are of the wrong suit compared to your victory. You cannot collect them. You look at the 3-point token on the stage, the one that is worth victory, and you know that next hand you have to do things differently.
The protagonist's move
You are the only one without performer tokens. If you finish the round like this, you take all the performers on stage — the jackpot. The others know it. Every trick becomes a tug-of-war: someone has to let you win something to prevent you from getting the jackpot.
The curtain falls, the accounts are settled
The tokens are counted. Someone has the 3-point protagonist for three suits — almost a complete collection. Someone has won a thousand tricks but taken almost nothing home. The cards are reshuffled, already wondering how to improve in the next round.
How to play
The flow of each round
Few rules, many decisions. It takes ten minutes to explain, three rounds to master.
Some performers are placed on the stage and others in the reserve line. The active trump suit is determined by the suit of the most valuable performers currently on the stage.
The current player leads with a card. Others must follow suit if they can, otherwise they play freely. Whoever wins the trick can collect a performer token of the winning suit from the stage.
Cards with values 1, 4, and 7 activate effects: they add, remove, or swap performers on the stage. This changes the active trump even in the middle of a hand.
If a player has no tokens at the end of the round, they collect all the performers still on the stage as a bonus. One card is kept for the next round and play restarts.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Real-time shifting trump
The dominant suit changes every time the stage changes. There is no fixed trump — what was valid in the previous turn may be worthless now.
Special cards that rewrite the rules
Values 1, 4, and 7 are not just numbers — they are switches. Whoever manages them best controls the stage and, with it, the entire dynamic of the round.
Winning the trick is not enough
You can win every single trick in the round and take home zero points if the suit doesn't match. The real skill is winning the right tricks at the right time.
The empty stage bonus
Whoever finishes the round without tokens takes all the performers remaining on the stage. A mechanic that creates unique tension — and often decides who wins the game.
2 vs 2 variant without communication
With 4 players, partners combine scores but cannot speak. Reading your teammate's play becomes a separate skill.
Original art and theme
Inspired by Vietnamese opera Cải Lương, with scenic illustrations and a pop-up stage that transforms each session into a true visual spectacle.
How it ends
Two paths to victory
You can focus on constant accumulation — or wait for the moment of the empty stage bonus. The two strategies clash every round.
Victory
- After an equal number of rounds per player, the player with the highest score wins
- Performer tokens are worth 1, 2, or 3 points depending on their role (foreground, support, protagonist)
- In 2 vs 2, partners sum their points — the team with the highest total wins
The jackpot bonus
- If you are the only player without performer tokens at the end of the round, you take all the performers on the stage
- Risky but potentially devastating strategy — others will do everything to stop you
- A card held between rounds can be the key to forcing this situation
Onstage is an unforgettable trick-taker: each round generates new stories, and the shifting trump keeps everyone on their toes until the last trick.
Frequently asked questions
Onstage FAQ
What makes Onstage different from other trick-takers?
The shifting trump. In almost all trick-taking games, the trump suit is fixed for the round — in Onstage it changes every time someone plays a special card and modifies the stage. This makes long-term planning impossible and turns every trick into a fresh decision.
Is it suitable for those who have never played trick-taking games?
Yes, with some caveats. The basics of trick-taking (following suit, trump) are learned in a few minutes. The stage mechanic adds an extra layer of attention, but it's quickly understood by playing. Those who have played Briscola or Rummy will have no problem.
With how many players does it work best?
With 4 players in 2 vs 2 mode, the experience is particularly interesting — silent coordination with your partner adds a unique tactical layer. With 3 or 5, the game is more free and chaotic. It works well in all configurations, but the team variant is worth at least one play.
How long does a game last?
A single game lasts 15-30 minutes. The format is a filler — it ends quickly and you immediately want to play again. Many groups play three or four consecutive games without realizing it.
Do the cards have text or is it language-independent?
The cards are completely language-independent — no text on the game cards. The rulebook is in English, but it's short and illustrated. It is not necessary to know English to play once explained by the rulebook.
What exactly is the empty stage bonus?
If at the end of a round you are the only player who does not yet have any performer tokens, you automatically take all the performers still on the stage as your score. It is a mechanic that creates one of the most tense moments of every game — everyone tries to make you win something before the round ends.
Onstage (also known as Sáng Đèn) is a competitive trick-taking card game for 3–5 players (ages 10+, duration 15–30 min). Published by Rolling Wizards (Vietnam), internationally distributed by Arcane Wonders in the Dice Tower Essentials line. Main mechanic: must-follow trick-taking with a shifting trump determined by the stage. The deck consists of 36 cards (values 1–9 for 4 suits); performer tokens are worth 1, 2, or 3 points depending on their role. Cards with values 1, 4, and 7 activate special effects on the stage, modifying the active trump in real-time. Supports 2 vs 2 cooperative mode. Illustrations inspired by Vietnamese opera Cải Lương. English edition with language-independent cards. Available on FroGames.it.
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