A game that uses just ONE card?

The smallest print and play I’ve played to date

Author

PnP Time
December 21, 2025

In partnership with

A one-page game feels compact. A nine-card game feels clever.

But imagine a dungeon crawl that packs 12 levels, escalating battles, and real strategic tension into ONE single card.

One card. A handful of dice. No deck to shuffle, no board to set up, no piles of components to store. And yet, within minutes, you are deep underground, fighting monsters, somehow managing your health, upgrading skills, and making decisions that are pivotal for your survival.

Say hello to One Card Dungeon!

Each level introduces new threats and demands more careful movement as the dungeon grows deadlier. Monsters behave differently, and dice rolls can save you or completely turn against you. And between levels, you face one of the most important choices in the game; do you heal, or do you upgrade your offence for what lies ahead?

Rush that decision, and the dungeon will punish you.

The rotations and flips of the card create a clear sense of progression as the dungeon becomes less forgiving with every level you clear. And as a game designer, it is hard not to admire how much design density lives on just two sides of a card.

Despite being easy to learn, this is not an easy game to win. A solid start can quickly be hindered if you misjudge a monster or upgrade the wrong skill at the wrong time.

A brand new edition is set to launch on Kickstarter in January 2026- One Card Dungeon: Hell’s Door. It expands on what is already one of the most compact print and play experiences out there. I received a copy from Little Rocket Games, and I cannot wait to dive into it. Will surely share my thoughts once I do!

A special nod to the sponsor of this issue, Kajabi 👇

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