Cardiators

Cardiators is a Duel minigame that appears in the game Mario Party 8. Its name is a pun on "card" and "gladiators". The Wii Remote is held sideways for this minigame.

Introduction
The two players enter a gladiator-like stadium from gated entranceways opposite of each other. Both players face each other in the middle of the stadium, and the game begins.

Gameplay
In the middle of the stadium appear three face down cards, each with a number from one to three. Both players choose a card, each of which has a number. The player with the highest number goes first.

Both players now compete in an RPG-style card battle. Both players have the same amount of (20) HP. A set of cards is displayed facedown on a nearby table. Each player has ten seconds to pick a card before whatever card he or she happens to be standing in front of is automatically picked for them. The card the player picks has a character (such as a Penguin or a Thwomp) and a number. The character on the card then comes charging in and attacks the opponent, taking away HP. The amount of HP taken corresponds to the number on the card. The best card that one can get is worth 12 hit points (which has the Chain Chomp), while the worst is worth 1 point or 2 points of damage (which is the Penguin). After the first player is done attacking, the opposing player then goes to the cards, grabs one, and attacks their opponent.

This process goes on until one of the players runs out of HP and loses the game.

Ending
The camera zooms in on the winning player, who stands behind the table of cards and does his or her victory pose as the losing player remains sitting on the ground behind him or her, still dazed from the last attack.

In-game text

 * Rules – "Take turns selecting cards that launch attacks on your rival. Reduce your rival's life meter to zero to win!"
 * Hint – "There's no way to know what a card will do until you've selected it. Good luck!"