Board games can run the gamut from mind-numbingly simple roll-and-move mechanics to insanely complex games that take hours just to read the instructions. Build or BOOM is definitely closer to the simple category, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had for players of all ages.
Designed as a children’s game, Build or BOOM is easy enough to figure out that you don’t really even need to read the instructions. Two players decide on a blueprint card to follow along with, with each player having a building pad in front of them. Once the round is started, the two players race to see who can build what is shown on the blueprint first, using the assorted building materials like barrels, girders, wood planks and even traffic cones.
Once one player has built up their tower of stuff, the player slams his or her hand down on a pile of dynamite next to them, causing the other player’s building pad to “blow up” and send pieces flying.
Rounds are fast, with each one lasting at most one minute. The rules say to play until one player wins 10 rounds, but that’s up to you to determine how much you really want to play. Blueprint cards are also marked by difficulty, from level one to level three, and are double-sided to allow for even more blueprints to build.
Seeing as how we don’t have kids readily available at the iDigi office, we had to make do by playing Build or BOOM with several grown adults. After multiple rounds of playing, everyone who sat down to build a tower walked away laughing and with a smile on his or her face. This may be a game for kids, but everyone can find enjoyment here.
Speaking as an adult, this could also easily get turned into a drinking game if you so wish. The only thing more satisfying than blowing up all of your opponent’s progress is making them take a drink afterwards.
The components of the game felt nice and sturdy, which is good seeing as how they go flying after every round. The building pads do seem to be a little bit smaller than they should be, but that helps add to the difficulty of stacking everything on top of each other.
Build or BOOM will be getting a nationwide release exclusively at Barnes and Noble stores in March, but can also be found right now on Amazon for $34.99. The deal on Amazon also includes a bonus set of blueprint cards that feature a new fourth level of difficulty.
Build or BOOM may not be the most complex game, but it certainly is fun. The high-quality pieces are easy enough to stack, with blueprints giving you more and more creative ways to stack all the pieces. If you want some quick fun with youngsters, or even some more adult-oriented gaming, Build or BOOM is worth looking into.
So what do you think? Are you interested in trying out Build or BOOM for yourself? What other board games are you looking forward to playing in 2017? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
