For those arriving at this site expecting a review from Dale, please just wait 24 hours. Or 48. Or 72. Or 96…

FTW?!

Designed by Friedemann Friese and published by 2F Spiele

Disclaimer: While it has no impact on my opinion of the game, I did receive a review copy. Had I not received a review copy, I would certainly have bought one.

The Game

It is remarkable just how many interesting games have been designed consisting of little more than a deck of cards with unique integers: Geschenkt, 6 nimmt, The Mind, The Game, Pico, 5ive Straight, and so on.  One wouldn’t expect such a simple deck to be capable of such a variety of games, but it is – and designers continue to find more.

FTW?! is just such a game, consisting of sixty cards numbered 1-60 inclusive.  In spite of the evidence to the contrary, I always come into such games not expecting much – expecting the games to be too simple as to be truly interesting.  But as with many games of all types, the simplicity merely makes the games easy to teach, but not in any way uninteresting.

In FTW?!, the deck (or a portion of the deck, with fewer than five players – the game supports 3-6) is dealt out.  Before starting play, everyone hands three cards from their dealt hand to the right.  Then the player left of the dealer leads any card they wish.  At this point, players have the choice of playing a higher card, or playing a lower card than the most recently played card in front of them, and taking any one of the played cards into their hand; at this point the player to their left leads any card to start the next play.  

A player with cards in front of them now has an additional option – playing a card which is smaller than the most recently played card, but discarding one or more face up cards to make the total sufficient.  In this case, the next player only has to play higher than the one card played, not the total including the discards.

Play continues until one player is down to one card.  Then everyone scores positive points for their largest remaining card, and negative points for each other card remaining – but 0 points if the total would be negative.  The game continues until all players have dealt once, at which point the highest score wins.

Reactions

FTW?! is a brilliantly simple game, with a fair bit of room for strategy.  First, as with many shedding games, there is the challenge of determining what is possible given the cards dealt.  Is it a hand where you can be the person to go out?  Are your opponents all playing lots of cards to the table so that it’s worth going out with only a middling score?  You know three of the cards the player to your right holds – how does this help you?  When you do choose to play a card to the table, do you want a high card or a low one?  I wouldn’t call the play exceptionally deep, but rather exceptionally engaging – it’s a game that can be played with one eye focused on doing well, and the other focused on enjoying the company of your fellow players.

If I have any complaints about FTW?!, it’s simply that while one round per player is needed for balance, it does make for a rather long game with six.  The game – as with most traditional (or traditional-feeling) card games has no theme, which won’t be ideal for some.  It’s a quality production, but a simple one as you might expect.  Though the price does reflect this, at 12 Euros and presumably a similar number of dollars when the game reaches the US.  English rules are included, and are clear.

Summary

If you enjoy traditional card games, FTW?! is likely an excellent choice.  If such games aren’t your cup of tea, FTW?! is unlikely to change your opinion – while I’ve really enjoyed my ten plays of the game, I am a fan of traditional card games.  For those on the fence, I’d recommend giving the game a try – it’s not a terribly long game (even with six), and I’ve found the game to be popular enough as to be willing to suggest it in most any crowd, from the most casual gamers on up.

Thoughts from other Opinionated Gamers

Larry (2 plays):  This is a really elegant rolling trick card game that has considerably more depth than is initially apparent.  The rules are very simple and the key to the game is how you score, since it means that both high and low cards have value.  There’s also some nice timing issues you have to think about.  It plays really fast and packs quite a punch for a game of its length.  The game’s simplicity and depth make it an ideal choice for almost any kind of group, including casual and more serious gamers.  I’ve played it with 3 and 4 players and really enjoyed it both times.

Dale (6 plays, I think):  I really like the decision points here in such a simple short game.  Trying to figure out when to play high or when to play a low card in front of you, giving you ammunition for later plays, and perhaps improving your hand as you must also draw a card from the played stack.  At some point, you’ll transition from wanting high cards (more easily playable) to lower cards (worth fewer points) – but figuring out the timing of that is part of the art of FTW?!

Jim (7 plays): I’ve been continually impressed at how engaging FTW?! is at all player counts. I think it shines for me at 4 players and drags just a bit at 6, but I have enjoyed it and would recommend it in all permutations. The core action of your turn is always the same – play out one card from your hand – yet the decisions are still weighty and fun to think through. The strategy might be a bit opaque to some casual gamers when starting but after seeing a hand or two scored I suspect most will have a solid grasp and find themselves asking for another play.

Ratings from the Opinionated Gamers

• I love it! Joe H., Dale, John P, Jim B
• I like it. Larry, Eric M., Erik Arneson
• Neutral
• Not for me…