A review of Hop! a dexterity and betting party game.

Title: Hop!

Year Published: 2016

Designer: Marie Cardouat, Ludovic Maublanc

Publisher: Funforge

Players: 3-6

Game Time: ~30 mins

Set-up Time: ~5 mins

Ages: 6+

Theme: The sky of the path of the legendary Hippopocorns

Mechanisms: Dexterity, Betting

How to win: Score the most points by ascending the clouds and collecting cloud tokens.

Game Description

In HOP!, you will travel the sky and cross the path of the legendary hippopocorns. Climb cloud to cloud in order to be the first to reach the top of the sky. Each challenge you face is another chance to rise higher in the sky —but helping other players also earns you rewards. Numerous challenges can be met only by helping or being helped by the other players. Be clever and you will gain levels, but choose your partners wisely in order to limit the points they gain alongside you.

Set Up, Game Play & Game End

Hop! Round-Up

I have to say this is the best game about throwing and catching a rainbow I’ve ever played. 🙂

It’s hard to compare it to other dexterity games really. This is a team game so there aren’t many of those. There are plenty of games like Junk Art that I enjoy, but they’re not team games.

The first team game that came to mind is one I haven’t played, Lift it! Here you are lifting things with a hook hanging from your head.

I don’t know of any throwing and catching games. Butt-Head, where you catch balls on your head but that’s it.

So yeah, it’s a unique game.

The component quality is clearly great. The minis are pained and wonderful. The cards are really thick, the board looks great on the table. The squishy foam rainbows are lovely too.

The random challenge for each round is pretty fun. You never really know what you’re going to do or if you’re going to be involved. As you’re either hurling, skewering, assisting or turbulent-ing? or betting… You’re always involved.

The scoring system works well and if you lose your last Balloon the game ends. You’re not just sitting there waiting for the game to end.

One issue is the cost due to the game being so large and well-produced. The RRP is £48 which is a lot for a quick, light-party game. You can get it now for around £25.

I was lucky and I got mine new for £10 at the UK Games Expo 2018 otherwise, I don’t think I’d own it.

Rating

A very fun, unique and cute party game.

I give it 6/10

Hop! First Impressions January 2018

Jesta ThaRogue