CAMPY CREATURES (2017)

PLAYERS	TIME	DESIGNER	PUBLISHER
2-5	20-30 mins	Mattox Shuler	Keymaster Games

In this 2-5 player bluffing and card bidding game, players use their hand of monster cards to ‘bid’ for valuable mortals in pursuit of points.

Each player starts with the same 9 creatures. Each creature has a number between 0-8 and its own ability.

At the beginning of a turn, a bunch of Mortal cards are laid out with a mix of scoring rules.

Players then play a Monster card in secret in order to give themselves the best choice of the points on offer.

Of course, while the highest played card picks first, some abilities change the results upon reveal. This is where the fun of the game comes in.

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You can see what others have already played so you’ll have a good idea what they have left. This leads to players bluffing and double bluffing.

You might give up on a round with a low card to see others chuck their best cards in. Then, going forward, you’ll be in a better position, while everyone else knows you have that trump card sitting in your hand, waiting.

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There’s a mechanic called the Clash-o-meter that decides ties. Win a tie and you go to the bottom of the pile.

After eight turns the round is over, and set collection results based on a house icon on some cards will gift one player with that rounds Location card (these give one off bonuses or ongoing abilities to use).

I love the classic art style of the game. From the perfectly illustrated 40’s looking Monster cards to the single colour Mortal cards, it gives off a nice vintage vibe.

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As for faults? It does need that higher player counts to shine. It’s passable at 2, better at 3, but fantastic when maxed out.

And the deck set up is fiddly, especially at lower counts.

Overall CAMPY CREATURES is a fun little card game. While it’s not super thinky, there is an element of second guessing yourself and others that leads to those fun card reveals.