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Welcome to Which Game First where we boldly explore the hilariously huge world of board games. Did we unearth any hidden treasures you’ve been missing out on? Let’s find out!
First: We bounce around like cats on a bed in … boop.
Next: We explore islands, looking for animals in …The Search for Lost Species
And lastly: We punch the clock as we slap each other in … Fun City Game
boop.
Designed by: Scott Brady
Published by: Smirk & Laughter Games (2022)
Players: 2
Ages: 10 & up
Playing time: 20 minutes
BOOP is an abstract strategy game for two players, in which the players place kittens and cats on a bed, trying to BOOP your opponents kittens and cats off of the bed.
Every time you place a kitten on the bed, it goes “boop.” Which is to say that it pushes every other kitten on the board one space away. Line up three kittens in a row to graduate them into cats… and then, get three cats in a row to win.
Can you BOOP your own kittens and Cats? Oh yes, which is why you need to be careful where you place your kittens and cats – in this game everything is an onomatopoeia ….BOOP!
The Search for Lost Species
Designed by: Matthew O’Malley, Ben Rosset
Published by: Renegade Game Studios (2023)
Players: 1 – 4
Ages: 13 & up
Playing time: 60 – 75 minutes
The Search for Lost Species is a deduction game, where players are scientists on an expedition to find a lost species.
The island nations of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia are the hex maps that can be explored, depending on which side of the board you choose to play.
The terrains vary: hills, forests and swamps. You will move by foot or by boat into and around the island to examine each region to find clues about the region’s wildlife. On any given hex, there is either one form of wildlife, or no wildlife at all. If you are able to confirm a wildlife in the region, then that will inform the player what type of wildlife might be in the surrounding regions. Points are awarded to players making correct deductions about the wildlife in a particular region.
The lost species you are looking for will be in a region that “appears” to be empty. But the clues you discover about the surrounding regions will help you hone in on the one region where the lost species resides.
Once a player successfully deduces the region containing the lost species, all players make their final moves, points are totaled, and the highest total wins the game – the true definition of game explorers!
Fun City Game
Designed by: (Uncredited)
Published by: Parker Brothers (1987)
Players: 2 – 4
Ages: 8 & up
Fun City Game is a race game where you live in a bustling city environment, trying to get to certain locations in the city before they close.
Players roll dice to move around the board, but they can augment their movement by playing Crazy cards to help them, such as adding 4 to your roll, or doubling your roll. But at the same time, other players can play their Crazy cards to hinder your movement, such as subtract 8 from your roll, or you fall asleep on the bus and overshot your bus stop.
At all times, 4 of the location in the city have active cards on them, meaning these locations are worth points if you can be the first player to get there – in time. Locations close at designated times according to the cards, so beat the other players there, and also beat the clock, which advances at “interesting” and somewhat random intervals.
Play until the clock strikes 5 o’clock, count up your points, and declare victory in Fun City – if chaos and craziness is your idea of Fun.