Odin Card Game Wins As d'Or at the Cannes International Games Festival

We previously reviewed the fantastic little card game Odin, from Helvetiq Games. You can read that here. It's a brilliant small box card game that fuses way more than you first see. It's really quite clever.

From this genius design, the game has won lots of fans, accolades, and even prizes. So, we set about to talk to Mr. Helvetiq himself, Hadi Barket, founder and chief publisher at Helvetiq.

WBG - Hey Heidi! So, we love Odin, but tell us a little but more about the game. How did it come to be part of the Helvetiq line-up?

It all started with a meeting in Paris with Bruno Faidutti, the French designer of Citadels. He showed us a co-design he had created with Yohan Goh — a name we hadn’t heard before. While we liked the game, it wasn’t quite the right fit for Helvetiq.

We later reached out to Yohan directly to introduce ourselves and set up a meeting at one of the major game fairs. There, he showed us several eclectic and fun prototypes, including a card game called Valhalla. It was perfect for our pocket line — we almost signed it on the spot.

In late June, I met with the trio of designers in Seoul. Gary, Hope and Yohan. Great creative minds, choosing to work together. They meet every Monday [to] bounce ideas [off each other, and Odin was born].

WBG - Amazing. Odin recently won the prestigious As d'Or at the Cannes International Games Festival. What does this recognition mean to you personally, and what does it mean for Helvetiq as a company?

It’s huge! Anyone working quietly in their corner dreams of a moment like this — recognition in front of thousands of people. That’s exactly what happened, and we felt so much joy.

Seeing our love for Odin translate into thousands of people playing it is incredibly fulfilling.

WBG - Do awards like this typically lead to a noticeable boost in sales?

Absolutely. The As d'Or is nearly as impactful as the Spiel des Jahres. Sales are often multiplied by ten.

WBG - Wow! By ten. That's incredible! Congratulations. Can you share some insight into the application process for entering a game into an award like the As d'Or? I'm sure many aspiring designers and publishers would be curious to know how it works.

There is no formal application process. We didn’t submit anything — our only “merit” was to publish the game.

That may not be the answer people expect, but it’s the truth.

From what we’ve heard, the jury — made up of media professionals, show hosts, and even a film actor — played over 500 games. They narrowed that list down to 40, then to 12. Odin was played more than 50 times by the jury, and they decided it would be a great ambassador for the hobby to a wide audience.

WBG - What an intriguing process. I wonder who the actor was! So, in your opinion, what makes Odin special or stand out from other games?

There are so many great games out there, but Odin evokes a very specific set of emotions. It converges beautifully — you’re never stuck in a game that drags on. You always feel like you’re doing well… until suddenly you lose. Then, of course, you want to play again to prove yourself — haha! (Very true! - WBG)

When playing to 15 points over several rounds, the game becomes increasingly tactical and long-sighted. It also plays well from 2 to 6 players — not that common — and it’s ultra-portable. I’m literally writing these answers on a plane with the game on the tray table.

Plus, it’s affordable enough that you can buy a few copies to share with friends.

WBG - Well safe flight and amazing you have signal up there! Tell us, what’s next in the pipeline for Helvetiq? Any exciting projects you can tease?

We’ve signed some amazing designers for upcoming releases: Antoine Bauza (7 Wonders), Théo Rivière (Tucano), and Kaya Miyano (Trio). If that’s not a tease, I don’t know what is.

WBG - What I need to know more!! Lastly, what are your thoughts on the current tariffs imposed by the American government, and how might Helvetiq respond or adapt to these challenges?

Business and uncertainty don’t go well together. Game publishing already runs on tight margins, and I’m genuinely concerned about the impact these tariffs will have. But the magic of play remains. Gamers will still be here. I just hope they continue to support their local stores, their publishers, and their designers.

WBG - Agreed. I think you need to be open and honest. Show the implications on your business, and then offer buyers the chance to help cover some of the costs at the point of purchase. In my experience, most will. But of course, that is when they buy direct. When you are dealing with resellers and other companies who sell for you, well gosh, good luck!

Thanks! Last but not least, thanks for the opportunity to share our story.

And if you haven’t played Odin yet… you’re missing out on something small but mighty!