Windows Phone Game Review: El Cagao

El Cagao is a fun, easy card game that you can take on three computer opponents or challenge up to three of your friends. Then game is nicely animated, fairly easy to pick up and challenging within it's own right.
El Cagao is a card game where each player is dealt 12-13 cards. Amongst these cards is the Joker or El Cagao. On each turn a player will take a card from the next player and then discard any pairs in their hand. You continue to take turns until one player is stuck holding the El Cagao.
The Main Menu for El Cagao has options to start a new game, resume a game, access your options, view the help screen, rate the game and view the local leaderboard. Options have choices to play a single player or multi-player game, choose your player icon and deck style. Multi-player games are played in "pass and play" fashion (you pass your Windows Phone around).
You start by wagering on your hand and your winning odds are based on your placement. First place obviously has the greatest pay out while the poor soul left holding the Joker wins nothing.
Once all bets are placed, the game starts and cards are passed around. Pairs are automatically discarded and should you pick the El Cagao, you can arrange his placement in your hand in hopes your opponents will choose him on the next turn. The game can be played in rounds with players advancing as long as they have money to bet. Each player starts with a $500 pot to bet with.
El Cagao was a fun game to play and while there is some skill involved, most of it is pure luck or chance. My only criticism would be that the cards are a little on the small side. Then again, you're dealing with a rather large hand so I doubt they could be much larger.
The game ran smooth and wasn't a bad way to pass the time with. Not sure I'll be playing any marathon games of El Cagao but it will make the rotation of games I play to pass short periods of time with.
There are two versions of El Cagao available. You have a free, ad supported version that you can find here (opens in new tab) at the Windows Phone Marketplace. There is also a $.99 ad free version of El Cagao that you can find here (opens in new tab).
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George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.
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LOL @ what "cagao" really means in spanish
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Exactly. LMAO. Do you all realize what the name of the game translated into English is? Awesome!
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Lol I came here to say exactly that!!! Hahaha! I was like, 0_o??
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I believe it's Portuguese not Spanish, but any way you look at it this game literally is the sh** There must be no bilingual people on the app review team at Microsoft. Oops.
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Well, maybe not proper Spanish but it is used all the same. You're f(aceboo)ked either way... =D
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This game is confusing.. The game reviewer for wpcentral sound really weird.. Im just saying
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lol at "el cagao"
now people can play this game and listen to this song and lets the party start! :tf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCmLZvN-Rc
the game isn't bad though, but i never expected a game with a name like this lol -
I actually met the developer of this game at one of the WP Tour Nights... The game is very popular in the Dominican Republic... Glad to see it here... And no it is not portuguese it is spanish...
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HAHAHA "El Cagao" hahaha!
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George, thanks for a great review! Well done!
For those wondering, and as Len2k620 said, the game is very popular in the Dominican Republic and named as such.
I hope that you all like the game. I wanted to do something original, rather than the 50th clone of blackjack. If you like the game please like it on Facebook, or mention it on Twitter. I welcome your comments or feedback!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ElCagao
Twitter: @ElCagaoFree
I also have a video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VICdOXdnuGY
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"¿Tú tan Cagao?" lol
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Hahaha I thought it was a joke until I clicked the article. Why would someone name it that. Imagine a job interview.
"Well everything looks good, what games gave you done."
"Oh I've done a couple, like El Cagao" "El Cagao?? What does that mean?" "Uhhh. . . . . Nothing important. . . ." -
since you mention it, I do have a job interview on Monday. I'll start thinking of something smart to say when I explain it :)
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I think it's original, funny and a good game to pass the time.
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thanks!
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I'll give you some tips...
Pay attention to the general area where your opponents draw their cards from... may come useful later.
If you already played once, you should already know that the player that starts the bet sets the minimum bet to play. Eventually it will be your turn to set the bet. Based on the amount you bet, you can force other players to stay out of the round because they dont have enough money to play. But you can also set the amount to the exact amount that would make another player bet [all] his/her money. At least when I play... they tend to have bad luck.
If you are playing the retail version and some particles show up when its your turn to select a card, it means that the player has [El Cagao] one of those cards can bring you bad luck.
In regards to scoring:
1. The player that exits first will keep his own bet-money, take all the bet-money from the player that exists last and 1/2 of the bet-money from the player that finishes third.
2. The player that exists second gets to keep all his bet-money. Only valid with four active players.
3. The player that exits third loses 1/2 his bet-money.
4. The fourth player will undoubtley keep the [Cagao] joker card and will lose ALL his bet-money.
When you lose all your money (<5) and you cannot longer bet then you LOSE.
If you can kick the other three players out of the game (take their money) then you WIN!
Good luck!!
last, last tip... if you dont pay attention your are doomed!