Tapeworm (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Tapeworm is a card game designed by Edmund McMillen and published by Studio71 in in 2020. The game revolves around players building their own tapeworm by connecting various body parts and power-up cards to outsmart their opponents. With a mix of humor and strategy, Tapeworm aims to provide a fun and engaging gaming experience for players ages 8 and up.

Game Components of Tapeworm

Card deck for creating and cutting apart tapeworms

Player tokens and markers

Rulebook

How To Setup Tapeworm

To set up Tapeworm, players start by shuffling the card deck and dealing a set of cards to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile. Each player chooses a starting card from their hand to lay down on the table, marking the beginning of their tapeworm. The objective is to create a sprawling grid by laying down cards in a way that extends their tapeworm while strategically cutting apart their opponents’ tapeworms.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Competitive Card Placement: Players take turns laying down cards to extend their tapeworm.

Strategic Cutting: Players can cut apart their opponents’ tapeworms to disrupt their progress.

Spatial Awareness: The game requires players to think spatially to maximize their tapeworm’s length.

Game Objective: The player with the longest tapeworm of their color at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

Tapeworm offers a unique blend of strategy and spatial reasoning, making it engaging and challenging. Players must balance expanding their own tapeworm while sabotaging their opponents’, which adds a layer of social interaction and competitive fun. The game’s visual appeal, with its sprawling grid of tapeworms, can be both mesmerizing and disturbingly fascinating.

Pros

High Replayability: The random draw of cards ensures each game is unique.

Social Interaction: Players constantly interact by cutting each other’s tapeworms.

Strategic Depth: Combines spatial reasoning with competitive strategy.

Visual Appeal: The game’s grid can be both beautiful and unsettling.

Cons

Complex Setup: Understanding the spatial mechanics can take time for new players.

Potential for Lengthy Games: Games can be prolonged if players are highly strategic.

Limited Availability: The game has been out of stock at some retailers.

Personal Thoughts on Tapeworm

Tapeworm is ideal for fans of strategic card games and those who enjoy competitive, socially interactive games. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games that require both spatial reasoning and strategic thinking. However, it may not be the best fit for those looking for a quick, simple game, as it can be complex and time-consuming.

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