No Zen

In No Zen, 2–4 players command rival factions battling for control of the mystical Circle of NoZen, a shifting battlefield where strategy and mental pressure are equally dangerous. Players use asymmetric decks of command, spell, and corruption cards to summon units onto the central grid, move across the battlefield, activate abilities, and disrupt enemy plans. Each turn, players draw cards, gain energy from controlled spaces, and spend resources to perform actions such as moving units orthogonally, attacking adjacent enemies, placing traps, or triggering powerful faction effects. Combat is resolved through unit positioning, directional symbols, support bonuses, and card interactions rather than dice rolling, giving the game a highly tactical feel. The core mechanic, No Zen, represents growing instability during battle. As players suffer losses, chain too many effects, or lose control of the battlefield, they gain Chaos tokens that trigger penalties, unpredictable events, and shifting loyalties. Units may defect, cards may misfire, and carefully built plans can collapse instantly. Players win by destroying an opponent’s Core, dominating the battlefield, or achieving maximum influence before the realm falls entirely into chaos. —description from the publisher