Eternal Sevens Review: The Magnificent Seven

About Eternal Sevens, from BoardGameGeek:

Eternal Sevens is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional shedding game Sevens (Fan-Tan). On each turn, players have only two choices: play a card or pass. Passing is limited, and if a player exceeds this limit and cannot play a card, they are eliminated from the game. As a result, players must constantly decide whether to play cards to empty their hand or deliberately hold back to force opponents into elimination. This core structure is based on the traditional Japanese rules of Sevens. In this game, passing is not just a way to avoid playing, but an action that can trigger effects. In addition, playing cards with the numbers 2 or 9 can activate special effects that influence yourself or all players. There are two paths to victory: either discard all cards from your hand or earn stars. Stars are awarded to players who complete a horizontal sequence. Because of this, choosing not to play and waiting for the right moment can become a powerful strategy. The game includes both a Casual Mode and a Gamer Mode. In Casual Mode, players can experience a streamlined, modern version of Sevens. In Gamer Mode, after receiving their hands, players choose a character. Each character changes the effects of pass actions, as well as how victory points and stars are earned, creating different strategic approaches while keeping the victory conditions the same. The combination of hand management, character abilities, and player decisions creates a dynamic and evolving strategic experience. -description from the designer