High-Stakes Hit List

Players: 1-3      Time: 5-10 mins

Objective:

Be the first player to successfully complete 5 hits by drawing cards and banking points without getting caught.

You’re a contract killer working through a list of high-profile targets. Each job requires careful planning, but the more you push, the greater the risk of getting caught. Complete a set number of successful hits before your rivals to claim the title of the world’s top assassin.

Setup:

1 standard 52-card deck (no jokers)

Paper and a pen/pencil to record scores.

The player who recently watched an action scene in a series or film is the starting player.

Card Values (Hit Success Points):

Number cards (2–10): Each represents how “clean” the hit was—higher numbers mean more success but also more heat.

Face Cards (J, Q, K) = Security Threat - Police, Organised Crime Bosses etc You’ve been noticed...

Aces = Assassin’s Choice

Play it safe (1 point)

Go bold (11 points, but risk getting caught at 21+)!

Gameplay:

Planning the Hit (Drawing Cards):

The active player draws a card and adds its value to their job total.

After each draw, they may choose to:

A) Execute the Hit (bank points) – If they have at least 15 points, they successfully complete the hit and bank 1 successful contract. Place this in its own standalone pile to the left of the player.

B) Push Forward (draw another card) to increase their total.

Botching the Mission (Bust Rule):

If a player’s job total exceeds 21, the hit goes wrong, and they fail the contract, gaining nothing this turn. 

If they draw two face cards in one job, security is alerted, and they fail the contract.

In either case turn the cards face down into a stack and set it to the right of the player. This is a botched job and counts as -10 points. 

The first assassin to complete 5 successful hits triggers the last round.

Each player that has not had a turn this round takes their final round.

If the deck runs out before a player reaches 5 hits, the game also ends.

Scoring

When the game ends each player adds up all of the values of their cards (Aces worth either 1 or 11 depending on how they were used.) 

Face cards count as zero points.

Then deduct 10 points from the score from each botched job.

The player with the highest score is the winner.

If there is a tie the player who has the fewest botched jobs wins, if that is tied the player with the most hits, if that is also tied the player with the highest scoring individual hit. 

Optional High-Stakes Rules:

“Silent Assassin” Bonus: If a player executes a hit with exactly 21 points, they complete 2 hits instead of 1 and gain a 15 point bonus.

“The Ghost” Bonus: If a player gets no botched contracts they gain a 20 point bonus. (A recommended addition)

“Rival Interference” Rule: If a player draws a pair of the same number, they may steal one card from a successful hit at random from another player.

“One Last Job” – On their last hit, a player must draw at least 3 cards before they can bank points, making the final kill a true test of skill.

“The Long Haul” – Combine two decks of cards and the game ends when the deck runs out.

“Bad Life, Bad Choices” – If you botch 6 jobs you get executed by those watching you. The police, the syndicate etc. Whatever you prefer.

“Lone Gunman” – For solo play, play as normal but the game ends on 5 successful hits, the deck running out or 6 botched jobs. If you botch 6 jobs you are hunted down and executed. You score zero points this game. Otherwise log your score and try to beat it next time.