Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Low interaction
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
...and then we held hands. is a co-operative game about finding balance.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Communication Limits
Rules restrict what players may say, show, or reveal while cooperating.
Cooperative Game
Players coordinate their actions toward a shared objective and win or lose together.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Layering
Place components over earlier pieces so their order and overlap affect play.
Melding and Splaying
Combine cards into sets and spread them to expose additional icons or effects.
Point-to-Point Movement
Move along explicit connections between named locations or nodes.
Read the full game description
...and then we held hands. is a co-operative game about finding balance. To win, the two players must complete objectives and reach the center of the board. The players take turns trying to fulfill the current common emotional objective by discarding emotion cards to move from node to node. They must do this without verbal communication, empathizing and always considering each other's situation when making a move. A player can use their own cards or their partner's, but if their move causes their partner to be unable to move, the players lose and the game ends. While moving from node to node, their balance shifts, and they are not able to refill their hand. The game features a card-splaying mechanism in which players change their "perspective" to reveal a new set of options. The players win by meeting in the center while in a balanced state and within one turn of each other - something quite difficult, and therefore very rewarding when achieved. ...and then we held hands. features art by beloved French illustrator Marie Cardouat, known for the art found in beautiful games such as Dixit, Steam Park, and Marrakech.