How on earth does that shape look like _______?!
I believe I got this game in Salem, Massachusetts. My husband wanted to take me somewhere I hadn’t been just to stroll around the town. I found this game in a random gift shop in the children’s toy section that we’ve all seen before in gift shops. Sometimes you have to hunt through the entire store to find that little, tiny area.
I saw this game, and it was only about $7. But it was cheap, looked unique, seemed to encourage creativity (which I am a big fan of), and most importantly, it looked like a game that would be fun to play with gamers and non-gamers alike.
In this game, you are given a simple shape: let’s say a plus sign. Each player has one minute to write down everything that shape reminds them of. Thirty seconds in, you rotate the shape to gain a new perspective. After the minute, take turns reading aloud what you came up with. Only unique answers score points! Read: Scattergories.
Let’s dig into the review, but keep in mind that the concept and design are incredibly minimal. Just because something scores a lot of 1s doesn’t make it a bad game!
Mechanics: Party, Creativity, Abstract
ART: 1/10
If you like absolute minimalism, then this is your game. There isn’t “art”; it’s just random outlined geometric shapes or lines put together that potentially resemble something in just black and white. That is the whole point of the game. It exemplifies Gestalt theory at its core. It is incredible how simple something can be that ends up making a fun game.
STORYTELLING: 2/10
There is no story. That being said, some ideas that come to players’ minds for a given shape are quite out there. It’s very humorous. Sometimes you might request someone to explain how they think a shape looks like what they mentioned. This is where the storytelling can begin. No, the game as a whole doesn’t tell a story. But this is a great ice-breaker and social game that can get everyone connected and discuss the intricacies of how their minds work.
COMPONENTS: 2/10
It’s just cards. With simple shapes. In a simple little box. I think they could have splurged and bought higher-quality cards, but then again, I believe this game came out in 2014, and perhaps all the synthetic options weren’t available. My cards are still in good shape since this game requires no shuffling. You just flip one over and play as many times as you want.
The box is more beat up because I bring it to almost every game night. Maybe they could have gone for a tin; that would have been cool. Overall, little to judge here.
COMPLEXITY: 1/10
This has to be one of the most simple games in existence. Perhaps Pictionary is more straightforward, but it’s definitely close! Requirements: eyesight and creative juices. That is it. Can you see the card? Can you think of what it resembles? That is all you need. If you aren’t super creative, maybe this game isn’t for you, but it is worth a shot. You might surprise yourself with what you come up with. Also, even if you are not creative, I think it’s a good exercise for your brain to do every now and then.
They could have made a braille version, which would have still worked. Accessibility should always be taken into account! But braille is a whole different story compared to other concerns like colorblindness and the like.
TRAVEL-FRIENDLY: 10/10
54 cards in a tiny box. Just keep it on you in case there is ever an opportunity! Great choice to bring to the workplace for a bit of teammate socialization but also something you can do on your phone. You only need a note-taking device (usually a pen and paper). Someone could keep time on their smartwatch while everyone takes notes on their phones. Seems like a silly, fun way to pass the time.
I’m glad I wrote about this; I have a company event coming up this May. Now I will remember to bring this along. Stay tuned for more opinions on this game!
UNIQUENESS: 2/10
At first thought, this seems unique since there is so little to this game, yet it brings a lot of fun and laughter. But let’s be honest. It’s the same game as Scattergories. Instead of naming everything you can think of in a category, write everything you can think of that looks like something. Don’t get me wrong; this game is more fun than Scattergories. A massive amount of interpretation is going on that is far more hysterical than “name things that are orange.”
Innovation:
As I’ve said a hundred times in this article, this game stood out to me because it is so minimal. I wish I had come up with the idea. If I had been given a few cards from this deck, I’m not sure I would have been able to describe how the game would play out. Abstract thinking games often are innovative since they don’t necessarily have to tie in with any overarching theme within the industry.
Final Comments
Is this the best game ever? No. But it does encourage conversation and connectedness with your friends and family. I often play this as an introductory game with new players and new friend groups.
Playing it repeatedly with the same people will become boring as you answer similar things from one game to the next. It’s even worse when the shapes are all so similar and minimal that you feel you’ve already answered things for that design. Playing it yourself too frequently will make it less enjoyable for you, but if you are okay with that and bringing more joy to new players, then that is great! Everyone I have shown this game to loves it because they hardly get to play it unless I bring it up.
Moral of the story: enjoy in moderation. Bring it to social gatherings with coworkers or new friends. Have a drink or two, and things will become more interesting. Make it NSFW. Create house rules. Innovate. Try to merge two cards together, then play the game. With a creative idea, the opportunities are endless!
Similar To: Pictionary, Scattergories
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Designer: Frankie Abralind
Publisher: Winning Moves
Game(s) Pictured: Brainspin
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