Overstocked (2022) Board Game

Overstocked is a card game released in 2022, designed by Archie Edwards and illustrated by Play For Keeps. It is a commodity speculation game that involves hand management, layering, pattern building, and selection order bidding. The game is designed for 1 to 6 players, with a recommended age of 6 years and older.

Game Components of Overstocked

Card Deck: Includes crate cards for various toys and popularity cards to influence demand.

Warehouse Board: Each player has a personal board to manage their stock.

Popularity Track: A shared area to track the current demand for each toy.

Mini-expansions: Additional cards and rules to mix up the strategy.

How To Setup Overstocked

To set up Overstocked, each player starts with a warehouse board and a set of crate cards. The popularity track is placed in the center, where all players can see the current demand for each toy. Shuffle the card deck and deal a starting hand to each player. The remaining cards are placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Spatial Card Placement: Players place crate cards into their warehouse, overlapping existing cards to maximize storage.

Popularity Manipulation: Players can also play cards into the popularity track to increase or decrease the demand for specific toys.

Six Rounds: The game is divided into six rounds, with each round representing a shift in toy trends.

Objective: The player with the most valuable stock at the end of the six rounds wins, avoiding toys that have fallen out of favor.

Player Experience

Overstocked offers a dynamic and engaging experience, particularly appealing to fans of overlapping card games like Sprawlopolis and Circle the Wagons. The game requires strategic planning, as players must anticipate and adapt to changing toy trends. The simultaneous card selection and set rounds keep the game short and predictable, lasting about 20 minutes.

Pros

Versatile Player Count: Supports 1-6 players, making it a great filler game.

Puzzle-like Card Placement: Challenges players to plan ahead and optimize their warehouse.

Constantly Changing Demand: Keeps the game exciting and ensures no player is out of the running.

Nostalgic Theme: Features cute artwork and iconic 90s toys.

Mini-expansions: Adds variety and new strategies to the game.

Cons

Short Playtime: May be too brief for some players.

Luck of the Draw: Card selection can sometimes be unpredictable.

Personal Thoughts on Overstocked

Overstocked is ideal for fans of spatial card games and those who enjoy strategic planning and quick, dynamic gameplay. It’s a great addition to any game collection, especially for those looking for a fun, nostalgic experience that can be played with a wide range of player counts. The game’s short playtime and versatile mechanics make it an excellent filler game to keep players engaged between longer game sessions.

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