How to Play No Mercy Game (aka HIT!) with Drinking Rules

So you’ve heard whispers about the No Mercy game—or maybe you saw it called HIT!—and now you’re wondering what all the fuss is about. Is it a board game? A card game? A trap set to destroy friendships and fuel party nights? (Spoiler: yes.) Whether you’re a board game collector, a Reiner Knizia fan, or just someone who enjoys turning casual game nights into chaotic battlefields, the No Mercy game is here to deliver. It’s all about flipping cards, stealing points, busting big, and maybe downing a drink or two in glorious, risk-fueled fashion.

What Is No Mercy Board Game?

No Mercy, also known as HIT! in its original French release, is a push-your-luck card game designed by the prolific Reiner Knizia. Yes, the same guy behind roughly 500 other games you may or may not have played. The game first hit tables as HIT! via Pixie Games in 2021, then popped up again as No Mercy from Mandoo Games in 2022.

 Overview of the Game

• Designer: Reiner Knizia
• Published by: Mandoo Games (as No Mercy), Pixie Games (as HIT!)
• Players: 2–5
• Play Time: 10–15 minutes
• Genre: Push-your-luck, set collection, take-that

At its core, it’s a quickfire race for points where players flip cards, steal from each other, and try to avoid busting. There’s minimal setup, fast turns, and a deliciously mean edge that makes it the perfect warm-up game—or late-night finale, depending on how many drinks you’ve had.

How to Play No Mercy Board Game

The Setup: What’s in the Box

The deck consists of cards numbered 1 through 10. You get 11 of each number from 1 to 5, and 7 of each number from 6 to 10. The goal? Accumulate the highest total value in your scoring pile by the end of the deck. Simple. But not painless.

How to Play No Mercy Board Game

• On your turn, flip a card from the deck.
• If the number matches any card in front of you and you already have at least 3 cards in play, you bust and lose all your cards from that round.
• If the number matches an opponent’s card, you steal those cards from them.
• At any point, you can stop flipping and bank your cards. If they survive until your next turn, they become permanent points.
• The game continues until the deck runs out. Highest score wins.

No Mercy Drinking Game Rules

Want to dial the energy up from “family-friendly fun” to “who put a shoe in the freezer?” Here’s how to turn No Mercy into a party game your friends will both love and regret.

Basic Drinking Triggers

• Flip your own number: Take 1 sip
• Bust: Finish your drink or attempt a dramatic reenactment of your failure
• Get stolen from: Choose—take a shot or reveal an embarrassing secret
• Successful steal: Assign a drink or make the victim say something nice about you
• Win a round: Everyone else cheers you with a toast in your honor
• Draw three 1s in a row: Assume the role of “Card Goblin” for the round. You must hiss whenever someone scores

Optional House Rules to Get Wild

• Group Bust Waterfall: If everyone busts in the same round, waterfall time. You start, others follow. No mercy, indeed.
• Wild Card: Assign wild effects to any card number. Pick any rule from the following examples:

Funny Variations of No Mercy Board Game

1. Total Chaos Mode

Premise: Every player plays their turn simultaneously. No waiting. No turns. Just card-flipping anarchy.

How it works:

• Everyone has their own mini deck (split the main deck evenly).
• Flip cards at the same time. If you flip a number someone else just flipped—scream “MERCY!” and steal it from them instantly.
• If you bust, dramatically yell “NOOOO MERCY!” and flip your entire scoring pile back into the discard.
• First to 100 points (or last person still sober) wins.

Pro tip: Wear a helmet. Eye contact is optional, screaming is not.

2. Dealer’s Dare Mode

Premise: Each round, one player is the “Dealer of Doom” and can assign one dare per round—based on game events.

How it works:

• The Dealer watches for juicy moments (busts, steals, unlucky draws).
• They declare a dare (must be game-related). Example:
  • “If you bust, you have to play the next round using only your elbows.”
  • “If you steal a 9 or 10, recite a love poem to the person you stole from.”
  • “If you draw a 1, you become the Human Table and someone sets their drink on you.”

Rotation: The role of Dealer rotates clockwise every round.

Optional: Make the Dealer wear a ridiculous hat. No hat, no power.

3. No Mercy After Dark

Premise: Classic game rules, but each card number has a secret “truth or dare” attached to it.

How it works:

• Before playing, assign each card number (1–10) a truth or dare. Example:
  • 1 = Show the last photo on your camera roll.
  • 5 = Do 5 jumping jacks while naming 5 breakfast cereals.
  • 9 = Call someone and confess your love… for a board game.
• Whenever someone ends a turn with that number in their pile, they must do the dare for every instance of that number.

Warning: This game is wildly fun and deeply humiliating. Also excellent for bonding with people you barely know (or for losing friends you’ve known too long).

4. The Steal & Reveal Mode

Premise: You steal a card—you reveal a secret.

How it works:

• Every time you steal from someone, you must reveal one embarrassing story, awkward fact, or guilty pleasure.
• Refuse to reveal? They take the cards back.
• Make up a story? Anyone can call “BS!” and the group votes. If you’re caught lying, you drink and they get revenge on your next turn.

Optional chaos: Keep a notepad of all the secrets revealed. Use it later. For… reasons.

5. No Mercy Olympics

Premise: Each round ends with a stupid challenge based on your score.

How it works:

• Lowest score = “Champion of Shame.” You must perform a physical or mental challenge selected by the table.
• Examples:
  • “Do a 10-second interpretive dance of your failure.”
  • “Reenact your bust using sock puppets.”
  • “Spell ‘Reiner Knizia’ backwards while hopping on one foot.”
• Highest score = “Smug Overlord.” You assign the next challenge and can’t be challenged yourself… until they fall from grace.

Victory condition: The player who wins three “Olympics” in a row must sing the national anthem of a made-up country while everyone else pelts them with cards.

Bonus Micro-Twist Add-Ons

• Mercy Shield: Once per game, a player can block one steal or bust by yelling “MERCY!” and doing 10 jumping jacks.
• Silent Round: Every third round, no one can speak. If you speak, you bust instantly. Eye contact becomes lethal.
• Card of Destiny: Shuffle one Joker into the deck. If someone draws it, they instantly lose all their points… and become the permanent card flipper for the rest of the game.

No Mercy vs HIT! vs Cheeky Monkey: What’s the Difference?

Are They the Same Game?

Functionally? Yes. HIT! and No Mercy are the same game with a language swap and maybe a little graphic redesign. Think of it like the same movie with different subtitles and a cooler poster.

What Sets No Mercy Apart?

Compared to Cheeky Monkey, an earlier Knizia press-your-luck game, No Mercy is snappier. No tokens, no draw bags, no animal counting at the end. Just cards, numbers, and that glorious, gut-twisting decision of “one more flip?”

Which Version Should You Buy?

If you’re in North America, No Mercy is your best bet unless you’re fluent in French or enjoy ordering from French Amazon. Both games are portable and inexpensive—honestly, just grab whichever one you can get your hands on.

Similar Games Like No Mercy (If You Like Chaos & Drinking)

If No Mercy leaves you thirsty for more drama, here’s your shortlist:

• Poetry for Neanderthals: Speak dumb. Win points. Try not to explode from laughter. Perfect for word lovers and chaos agents.
• What Do You Meme?: Memes and shots. That’s the tweet.
• Drunk Uno: Exactly what it sounds like, with house rules and a high chance of arguments.
• Cards Against Humanity: Pure absurdity, especially with people who have no filter.

Final Thoughts: Why No Mercy Deserves a Spot on Your Shelf

No Mercy doesn’t try to be a sprawling epic. It knows what it is: fast, brutal, funny, and sneakily addictive. It plays differently depending on who’s at the table, and it’s just as good for families as it is for slightly tipsy adults. Whether you’re looking to sneak in a 15-minute brain burner or crown a champion in a ridiculous drinking contest, this little game pulls off both like a champ.

FAQs About No Mercy (or HIT!) Card Game