Hamsters vs. Hippos (2021) Board Game

Hamsters vs. Hippos is a relatively new board game released in 2021 by Tin Robot Games. The game pits adorable hamsters against hungry hippos in a fast-paced and exciting race to gather food and avoid being eaten. With a playful theme and engaging gameplay, Hamsters vs. Hippos has quickly gained popularity among families and casual gamers alike.

Game Components of Hamsters vs. Hippos

Lily pad tiles: Used to create a grid based on the player count (5×5 or 7×7).

Lotus flower tokens: Placed on the center tiles, these tokens are the source of victory points.

Hippo tiles: Represent the predators that can end a player’s turn and cause them to lose their collected lotus flowers.

Hamster characters: Wooden, screen-printed figures that players use to navigate the pond.

Special action tiles: Include bonuses like peeking at another tile, stealing lotus flowers, or accidental slips into the water.

Rulebook: Provides clear instructions and a glossary for the different types of tiles.

Token bowl and player boards: For organizing and tracking players’ lotus flowers.

How To Setup Hamsters vs. Hippos

Setup involves laying out a grid of lily pad tiles in the center of the table, with the size of the grid determined by the number of players. For example, a 5×5 grid is used for fewer players, while a 7×7 grid is used for more. Lotus flower tokens are placed on the nine center squares. Two of the four villainous hippo tiles are removed from the stack before shuffling and creating the pond.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Press-your-luck mechanic: Players take turns flipping tiles to reveal either lotus flowers, special actions, or hippos.

Movement actions: Each player can move to a new lily pad tile and then choose to either jump to an adjacent tile or leave the pond.

Tile resolution: Tiles may reveal additional lotus flowers, special actions, or hippos. Revealing a hippo causes the player to lose their collected lotus flowers for that round.

Round structure: The game consists of four rounds, with additional hippos added to the mix each round.

Objective: The player who collects the most lotus flowers by the end of the four rounds wins.

Player Experience

The game is described as “unapologetically casual” with a strong emphasis on chance rather than strategy. Players must balance the risk of revealing a hippo against the reward of collecting more lotus flowers. The game is highly randomized, leading to significant swings in fortune, especially with higher player counts. While it can be enjoyable with fewer players, games with 5 or 6 players can become chaotic and less manageable.

Pros

Easy to set up and play: Simple instructions make it accessible to younger players.

High replayability: The randomized nature of the tile flips ensures each game is different.

Fun illustrations: The game features adorable hamster characters and menacing hippos.

Quick gameplay: Games typically last between 15-30 minutes.

Cons

Limited player agency: The game is heavily based on chance, reducing the sense of control.

Chaotic with high player counts: Games with 5 or 6 players can be less enjoyable due to the high risk of early elimination.

Components could be improved: Some reviewers found the lotus flower tokens to be less interesting than they could be.

Personal Thoughts on Hamsters vs. Hippos

**Hamsters vs. Hippos** is a game that excels at providing a light-hearted, fun experience, particularly for younger players. It is ideal for families or casual gamers who enjoy push-your-luck mechanics and do not mind a high level of randomness. While it may not offer deep strategy, it is a great choice for those looking for a quick, entertaining game that can be taught and played within a short time frame. However, older players or those seeking more complex gameplay may find it less engaging.

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