Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock (2019) Board Game

Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock is an expansion for the popular card game Smash Up, which was first released in in 2019. This expansion takes players on a journey around the world, exploring different cultures and their unique abilities within the game. Designed by Paul Peterson and published by Alderac Entertainment Group, this expansion adds a new layer of strategy and excitement to the original game.

Game Components of Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock

111 game cards

5 card dividers

1 token sheet

Factions: African Legends, Russian Fairy Tales, Polynesian Voyagers, Ancient Incas, and Anansi (African folklore).

How To Setup Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock

To set up the game, players need to shuffle their decks and draw a starting hand. Each player chooses two factions to combine, creating a unique deck. The base game rules apply, with additional instructions for the new factions and mechanics introduced in Culture Shock.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Combination of Factions: Players combine two factions to create their deck.

Deck-Play Mechanic: A new mechanic where players can play a card off the top of their deck, which can be either a minion or an action.

Minion and Action Cards: Use minions and actions to reduce the opponent’s base score to zero.

Base Destruction: Destroy bases to earn points.

Game Objective: The first player to reach 15 victory points wins the game.

Player Experience

**Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock** offers a fresh mix of factions, adding new strategies and combinations to the base game. Players can explore different cultural themes and mechanics, enhancing the game’s replayability. The expansion maintains the fast-paced andinteractive nature of Smash Up, making it appealing to both new and veteran players.

Pros

New Factions: Introduces five new factions, each with unique abilities and playstyles.

Increased Replayability: Adds new combinations and strategies to the game.

Cultural Diversity: Incorporates legends from around the world, adding a cultural twist.

Easy to Learn: New mechanics are straightforward and integrate well with the base game.

Cons

Requires Base Game: Players need the original Smash Up game to use this expansion.

Balance Issues: Some factions may be more powerful than others, affecting game balance.

Personal Thoughts on Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock

This expansion is ideal for fans of the Smash Up series looking to expand their gameplay options and explore new cultural themes. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy strategic deck-building and combining different faction abilities. New players to the series may also find it appealing, but they will need to purchase the base game first to fully enjoy the expansion. Overall, **Smash Up: World Tour – Culture Shock** adds a vibrant and engaging layer to the Smash Up universe.

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