Cardiators

Cardiators is a Duel minigame that appears in the game Mario Party 8. Its name is a portmanteau of "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
Three face-down numbered cards appear, each with a number from one to three. Both players select a card, and the player with the highest number goes first.

Both players now compete in an RPG-style card battle, with 20 Health Points each. A set of numbered cards from 1 to 12 is displayed facedown on a nearby table. Each player has ten seconds to pick a card; if they do not make a selection, the card their cursor highlights is automatically picked for them. Each player takes turns picking a numbered card, which will also have a character on it. The character is summoned to attack the opponent and deal damage equal to its value; the Penguin does the least damage, while the Chain Chomp does the most. The first player to reduce their opponent's HP to 0 wins.

Ending
The camera zooms in on the winning player, who stands behind the table of cards and does their victory pose as the losing player remains sitting on the ground behind them, 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!"