The Table Is Lava (2018) Board Game

The Table Is Lava is a fun and exciting board game released in 2018 that challenges players to navigate their way across a room without touching the floor, which is represented as lava. Designed by Brandon Lewis and Jennifer Vargas, this game is perfect for children and adults alike who enjoy action-packed and dexterity-based games.

Game Components of The Table Is Lava

40 cards (10 of each color)

60 meeples

1 rulebook

How To Setup The Table Is Lava

To set up the game, each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding meeples and cards. The objective is to create a series of connected cards on the table, which serve as safe ground for the meeples, while the rest of the table is considered lava.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Count: 2-4 players

Playing Time: 20 minutes

Age: 10+

Mechanics: Dexterity, Card Tossing, Take That

Objective: Players toss cards onto the table to create safe ground for their meeples. The goal is to save as many meeples as possible while trying to knock other players’ meeples into the lava.

Scoring: Standing meeples are worth two points, and meeples on their side are worth one point. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

The Table Is Lava is known for eliciting consistent fun reactions from players. The game involves a simple yet engaging challenge of tossing cards to save meeples and knocking opponents’ meeples into the lava. It is easy to learn but can get messy quickly, making it a great addition to family game nights or casual gatherings.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to a wide range of ages.

Fast Paced: Games last only 20 minutes.

Interactive: Encourages active participation and social interaction.

Funny: Often leads to hilarious moments and laughter.

Cons

Messy: Card tossing can lead to a messy cleanup.

Color Issue with Expansion: The Coconuts expansion adds meeples and cards that are too similar in color to the base game, causing confusion in low light.

Potential for Loss: Meeples can get lost or cards can get bent over time.

Personal Thoughts on The Table Is Lava

This game is perfect for families, casual gamers, and anyone looking for a quick, fun, and interactive game. It’s ideal for those who enjoy dexterity games and don’t mind a bit of chaos during gameplay. While it may not be the most strategic or complex game, it excels in providing an entertaining and light-hearted experience. However, it might not be the best choice for very young children due to the potential mess and the need for some level of coordination.

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