PlayProp Review
Sometimes I sit down to write a review and the introduction just pops into my head. A tenuous link or reference that sets the tone for the review to come. Maybe it will be some cheap puns to try and make the reader roll their eyes and groan. But let’s be honest, you’re just here to find out if PlayProp is a corker of a game!
Just a little side note before we continue, I purchased my copy from amazon.com as it was not available in the UK, it came with no additional import fees or taxes, other than those collected by Amazon in the first instance.
Setup
Take the two neoprene play mats out of the box and set them in the middle of the table, give all but one person a cork on a string, the remaining player will start as the Cupper, give them two dice and the cup, and you are set up in super quick time!
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Gameplay
The game is played over a series of rounds equal to the number of players. The Cupper will roll the two dice and lift the cup. If the dice combined add up to seven, or a double has been rolled, the Cupper needs to trap as many of the corks under the cup as they can. In contrast, the players with corks need to whisk their cork away before being trapped.
Players with corks will gain a point if they get trapped, or if they pull their cork incorrectly when it isn’t a seven or a double. The cupper will get a point if they incorrectly trap a cork or, if they fail to catch any corks when they are meant to. When any player gets to four points, the cup moves to the player on their left.
Once everyone has taken a turn as being Cupper the game ends. In PlayProp, the player with the lowest score wins.
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What it’s like
PlayProp isn’t a relaxing game, this is a game of total concentration and quick reflexes. It also just happens that this leads to laugh out loud moments when mistakes are made. Counting to seven has never been more tense!
It is not rare for someone to pull their cork incorrectly, and equally common for someone to follow by pulling theirs too! Five and a three is the one that catches most people out, and looking for doubles also keeps you on your toes.
Being the Cupper isn’t devoid of mistake-making either. Although you have the added fun of distracting players, which is encouraged in the rules.
This game won’t be for everyone, quick reactions and number counting will deter some, but if that doesn’t put you off, it is lots of fun!
It works at all player counts but does seem to work best with five or six, just in terms of game time. Although I am not much of a pub dweller, I could imagine taking this out with me on a Sunday afternoon and playing it repeatedly while sipping on a cheeky little alcoholic beverage. I think it could be even more fun with tipsy players!
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Table Presence
As far as a big red cup and corks on a string go, these are perfectly attractive ones! I like that the corks are branded. I will say that due to the inherent nature of the material, the corks are a little fragile and mine are showing signs of chipping around the edges, and one has fared even worse and required superglue. I am a little surprised a couple of spare corks aren’t included. I will say the beads on the opposing end of the string is a nice touch.
The scorepad does a good job. One player needs to tally scores as they go, to check if anyone gets to four strikes, but a little extra total column beside this might’ve been beneficial to tally scores at the end of each round and add up the final scores easier.
The neoprene mats are fine. PlayProp could potentially do with a colourful update and refresh, but on this occasion the gameplay is such fun you can ignore the big and bold redness. I’m not sure on the name, and the game carries a weird slogan: “Playing for good relations” which is noticeably a bit weird!
The rules are on each side of the box, it’s a simple game to learn so this serves nicely and will mean you never lose the rules if you take this out and about.
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What the kids thought
Max (10): Absolutely brilliant! My game of the moment! I love everything about it! Ten out of ten.
George (14): I really enjoy PlayProp. It’s a tense and fun game and it tests my reaction time.
Harrison (17): PlayProp is one of the best party games we own! It’s really engaging and very funny at times. The concept isn’t difficult but that is a big part of what makes this game so much fun. Absolutely love it!
Final thoughts on PlayProp
The name is just a bit weird and it would be easy to overlook PlayProp as a novelty party game. I think snobbery towards those sort of games will be its downfall among many board gamers. They would be wrong however, as this is an engaging and very social game to have on the shelf.
I appreciate that this is just a cup and some corks on strings, but I assure you that PlayProp is way more fun than it deserves to be. I got it on a whim from America when a friend recommended it, and I am jolly glad they did. I was dubious before I ordered it, but now I am a total cork-pulling, cup-slamming convert! You can tell the kids love it too!
Key Facts
Number of players: 3 to 8
Board Game Review Recommended Age: 8+
Publisher’s Recommended Age: 8+
Playing Time: 15 minutes
Setting Up and Take Down Time: 1 minute
Designers: Birger Norup
Publisher: Self published
RRP: £19.99
Summary
What a corker! PlayProp is definitely a hit in our household as it is a surprisingly good party game!
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Artwork and Components
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Complexity
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Instructions
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Interaction
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Value for Money
Overall
Pros
- Super easy to learn
- Always laughter
- Simple, silly fun
- Better at higher player counts
Cons
- Currently only available in America
- Corks can get damaged
- It is a curious name!
- Weird slogan
Reviewer’s Note
For clarity: we don’t get paid for our reviews. Furthermore I paid for this game with my own grown-up money. We have tried not to let this affect our review in any way.
