Yogic Quest

Do you and your family and friends love card games? Do you love yoga, or are you curious about it? Then please allow us to introduce you to Yogic Quest.

Yogic Quest is a beautifully illustrated, eco‑conscious deck‑building game for 2–4 players that brings the wisdom of yoga to the tabletop. Designed by a yoga teacher with 20 years of practice and teaching experience, the game invites players into the world of Loka, where postures, meditations, mantras and breath practices become cards you weave into your own evolving Sadhana, a personal practice deck. Accessible to newcomers yet rich enough for seasoned gamers, Yogic Quest blends light strategy, cooperation and kindness, rewarding not only skillful play but also acts of compassion through its unique Ahimsa system. Produced sustainably using environmentally responsible materials, this is a game about balance: on the table, in community, and with the world around us.

Welcome to Loka, where the Yoga Beings live in freedom, happiness, and peace. Or at least, they did! The dark force of Avidya is now shrouding the land in ignorance. Climate change, illness and war are looming. The only remaining hope is a group of peace superheroes calling themselves the Shanti Squad who can reunite sun and moon and bring peace, light, and harmony back to Lokah!

In this deck-building card game for up to 4 players you will choose one of these superheroes as your avatar as you strive to create the best practice deck and generate the most Shakti points to save Loka. Or will you go for an Ahimsa victory? Come and join the adventure and learn all about yoga with the Yoga Beings!

Yogic Quest is a deck-building card game. Each player starts with a basic deck of cards. The principal aim is to score as many Shakti points as you can, through the crafting of a strong, varied, and harmonious deck of cards called your Sadhana or personal practice deck

Co-operation is encouraged! Performing acts of kindness that benefit other players gain you Ahimsa points. Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word that means ‘non-harming’. These points get added to your total at the end of the game. In addition, there is a special Ahimsa victory for the player who has played most kindly.

Each round, you will play your hand to accrue sun and moon tokens, which can then be used to 'learn' new practices (new cards) from the Ashram (prototype pictured above). Watch out for the monsters who will appear and attempt to stall your yoga journey.

Watch your Prana! This is your life force or energy bar. Each card costs a certain amount of Prana to play and once it is drained you cannot play any more cards that turn, though you can add Restore cards to your deck which will replenish Prana.

Take gaming off the table and onto the mat! Why not have a go at some of the yoga postures as you play? Though remember, yoga practices, particular the more advanced postures and the breathing and meditation techniques, are always best taught face to face from an experienced teacher :) 

Now meet the Shanti Squad, the four peace superheroes you will be able to play as:

Petra and Petras: Supersonic Surfer Dude & Dudess
Petra is a Greek and Arabic word meaning ‘rock’. Actually a duo, this rad pair harness the power of the sun and also their supersonic surfboards. Their special move is ‘Surfer Dude’ aka Warrior 2. Be excellent to each other!

Cheetra: The Cosmic Runner
Cheetah is an Indian word that comes from the Sanskrit word Cheetra, which means ‘spotted’. With his incredible speed and ability to harness moon energy, Cheetra makes for a formidable hero. His special move is Crescent Move Lunge. Cosmic runner GO!

Priscilla: The Fashionista Flamingo
Priscilla is a Latin name meaning ‘ancient’. Her many followers know her for her love of pink and sparkles, but with a wave of her glitter wand and her unique Balance power called Flamingo Pose, she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Dhanu: The Mysterious Archer
Dhanu is another Sanskrit word meaning ‘bow’. Not much is known about this enigmatic owlish figure, but they move amongst the forest shadows with their trusty bow, and are armed with a special Flex move called, fittingly, The Archer.

Now take a look at some of the different types of cards you can collect in Yogic Quest. The key to success is to craft a balanced and harmonious deck, with postures, meditations and mantras... just as a truly effective yoga practice should be!

Now it's time to meet the enemies! These 'enemies' really represent some of the obstacles to yoga practice as identified by sage Patanjali way, way back. When they appear in the Ashram they cause 'afflictions' that affect all players, such as draining Prana or causing everyone to randomly banish a card from their hand. You can defeat and collect these monsters for extra points.

At the end of the game, all players will add together their scores in order to determine whether enough Shakti power has been accrued as a team to defeat the 'final boss' Avidya, adding a cooperative and collaborative aspect to the game.

What stage is the project at? 

The game is fully designed and illustrated. All that remains is to complete some further playtesting to ensure that the game is fine-tuned. Then all I request is your support and backing to make it happen!

Who is the game aimed at? 

The game has a medium-light complexity, I have aimed to design it so that it is readily accessible for those with little experience in gaming. The game can be played by children from 10+ though that's a rather arbitrary figure as younger children with gaming experience may well be able to join in. You do not have to have any interest in or experience of yoga to play the game. Once the rules are learned, a game can be played in about an hour. Here is a pic of the current prototype:

Ethical and sustainability commitment

It would be terribly hypocritical to create a game themed around Ahimsa or non-harming and not to extend that to the way the game is designed, manufactured and distributed. I aim to use the most eco-friendly and sustainable materials that I can, and that are nevertheless durable and hardy, even if this means that the game may cost a bit more than other comparable games that are not driven by sustainability. See the 'Environmental Commitments' section for further details.

Why I created Yogic Quest 

My name is Ben, one half of Yoga Nature Sheffield. I’ve been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching for nearly a decade. What began as a personal exploration grew into a lifelong study of yoga’s rich history and philosophical roots.

I have a particular passion for the traditional teachings of yoga and tantra, and I love exploring how these systems were originally understood before they became modern wellness trends.

Alongside yoga, I’ve been a dedicated gamer for most of my life. I grew up with Nintendo, and The Legend of Zelda remains my all-time favourite series. I’ve always been drawn to immersive worlds and games that reward curiosity and exploration.

This project brings those two worlds together. My aim is to design a game that sparks curiosity about yoga’s deeper traditions while keeping the joy, strategy, and creativity that make great games unforgettable.

When I’m not teaching, studying, or designing, you’ll likely find me walking in nature, swimming in the sea, spending time with cats, or immersed in graphic design. All of these influences shape how I think, create, and play.

This game is the natural meeting point of everything I love, and I’m excited to share it with you.

About the Illustrator 

Emilia Cornwell is a freelance illustrator from Brighton. Her work is inspired by nature and aims to connect people with the world around them. Emilia uses both traditional and digital drawing techniques to create her illustrations. She has taken inspiration from nature as well as some of her favourite games like Fire Emblem, the Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy; to bring the fantastical characters of Yogic Quest to life. 

Use of AI

AI was only used in the early stages of the project, to provide a visual aid to myself and my illustrator about how I wanted the game to look.