Team UP! (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Team UP! is an abstract strategy board game that was released in 2018 by designer Florian Bellon and published by Helvetiq. The game is designed for 1-4 players, with a recommended age of 7 and up. Team UP! falls under the categories of abstract strategy, industry/manufacturing, and transportation, and includes game mechanisms such as action queue, cooperative gameplay, push your luck, and tile placement.

Game Components of Team UP!

27 boxes in three different colors (red, blue, white) and one neutral box

Card deck

Mini pallet game component

Rulebook

How To Setup Team UP!

To set up Team UP!, players start by placing the neutral box on the pallet. Each player then draws a card from the deck, which indicates the type and color of the box to be placed next. The objective is to stack the boxes compactly, adhering to specific rules such as ensuring boxes touch existing boxes on the pallet and do not overhang.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Stacking Mechanic: Players draw cards that specify the type and color of the box to stack.

Color and Shape Constraints: Boxes must touch existing boxes, cannot overhang, and identical boxes cannot fully cover each other.

Scoring: 5 points for each completed layer, minus 1 point for each face-down card and unused box.

Game End: The game ends when the last box is placed, the draw deck is empty, or players choose to stop.

Objective: Achieve the perfect score of 25 by stacking five complete layers of boxes.

Player Experience

Playing Team UP involves a blend of strategy and spatial reasoning. While the rules are simple, executing them to achieve a high score is challenging. The game is particularly satisfying when players successfully stack boxes in a way that sets up future moves. However, cooperative play can feel like “multiplayer solitaire,” as multiple players are essentially working on the same task without much interaction.

Pros

Unique Cooperative Puzzle: Team UP offers a distinct cooperative stacking experience.

Replay Value: The game is tough to master, encouraging players to improve their scores.

Family and Kids Friendly: Easy rules make it accessible for children and a good family activity.

Short Game Time: Games are quick, lasting about 20 minutes.

Cool Game Component: The mini pallet is a standout component.

Cons

Limited Cooperative Engagement: The game does not offer engaging cooperative play for adult groups.

Rulebook Issues: The rulebook could be clearer, lacking specific instructions for certain scenarios.

Not Ideal for Adult Groups: It feels more like solo play even with multiple players.

Personal Thoughts on Team UP!

Team UP is best suited for solo players or families with children who enjoy puzzles and stacking games. While it provides a unique and challenging cooperative puzzle, it lacks the interaction and excitement that most adult gaming groups seek. For those who enjoy spatial reasoning and score-chasing, Team UP can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, for adult gaming groups looking for more interactive cooperative games, it might not be the best choice.

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