From the makers of Cranium comes Party Playoff, a game that turns a random collection of people, places, things, and actions into a tournament-style war of opinion.
Just the Facts:
Players: 4 or more
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Age: 12 to Adult
Publisher: Cranium Inc. / Hasbro
MSRP: $19.95
Summary: Party Playoff is a lighthearted, and offbeat party game. Party games is quickly becoming a crowded market, but while not our favorite game of the genre, Party Playoff is enough fun to warrant a spot on your game shelf.
Rating:
The Gameplay:
The tournament bracket in each game of Party Playoff is populated in four sections, each dedicated to one of four categories. Tiles containing the names of people, places, things, or actions are randomly drawn and placed on the tournament bracket. For example, Donald Trump could be going up against Judge Judy, fuzzy dice versus a grilled cheese sandwich, or the act of skinny dipping facing off against the act of bargain hunting.
What players do not know is how these tiles will be compared to each other throughout the game. Comparison questions are contained in a deck of cards, with a new question being revealed for each one-on-one matchup. Players will then vote (preceded by much argument) on which of the two tiles best fits the question, and that tile will advance along the tournament bracket. For example, two places could be compared by asking “Where have more children been conceived?”, or two people could be compared by asking “Who would have a better shot at escaping Alcatraz?” If there is a tie vote, a spinner is used to pick which player gets the final say.
In order to win the game, players must accurately predict the results of the tournament before any of the match-ups actually take place. The players know what tiles will face off against each other, but must make their predictions before actually seeing the questions. Points are awarded for predicting which tile will win its respective category (making up the final four) and even more points are awarded for predicting which tiles will move on or eventually win the final round.
Players are also given one opportunity to earn bonus points, in a side game testing how well you know your opponents. Each player may pick one other player in the game and attempt to guess what their opponent has predicted as the final remaining tile. For example, my wife is a big fan of court television shows, so when I saw the “Judge Judy” tile come up in the people category, I immediately predicted she would have that tile down to win it all.
The Contents:
One of the strengths of Party Playoff is the actual contents of the game. While only eight tiles from each category are used during each game, every category has over 120 different possible entries. There is also a large deck of cards, providing enough variety that games are not likely to feel repetitive.
Playing pieces are also designed in a manner very faithful to the Cranium franchise. Certain elements show off that quirky Cranium charm, such as the tie-breaking spinner which is named “The Decider” and shaped like a giant hand.
The game is also designed in a way that makes it easy to teach. Each category is shaded in it’s own respective color on the board, and those which a player would be awarded points for predicting are placed in the clearly marked center section. Each player is given a sheet from the tear-off pad, each page of which is an exact replica of the center section of the tournament bracket. Players simply need to fill in the spaces and seal their answers away until the end of the game.
Our Thoughts:
When it works, Party Playoff is actually is one of the best party game experiences one can have. You can expect spirited debate as players attempt to justify why a certain tile should advance or another one not. Obviously, players are secretly jockeying to get their picks further into the game, and that forced allegiance provides most of the fun. The best moments in our games of Party Playoff involved players attempting to rationalize ridiculous statements in order to allow their chosen tiles to win the question and advance.
The problem is that Party Playoff does not always work. These types of games are as much about the mood and spirit of the players as they are about the game mechanics themselves. However, the random distribution of tiles and questions occasionally led to situations where no player truly cared which tile won or which tile lost, and that made it hard to bring players out of there comfort zone. Party games rely on getting their players into that “standing on the table shouting” zone where the fun truly happen. When several match-ups in a row wind up boring, though, the game begins to drag and it is difficult to create that atmosphere.
Party Playoff truly is a fun game. However, in a crowded field of party games, we cannot deem it the best in its class. That being said, Party Playoff is enough of a good time to earn a spot in any game shelf, and probably deserves a spot in the rotation of every party game fan.
Pros:
- High re-play value
- Well timed (30 minutes) for a party game
- Faithful to Cranium brand
- Contents of game well though out
Cons:
- Random nature occasionally leads to rounds that simply aren’t very fun
Where to Purchase:
Party Playoff is an exclusive available for purchase at Starbucks and Barnes & Noble stores.
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