Platypus is a co-op party game where players need to direct guessers towards and/or away from a particular word.
No idea why it’s called Platypus.
Acid? Dangerous? Annoying? A car saleswoman! Edible? Quick? Flexible? Captain America — or an ostrich?
Unbeliveably the quote about this game on BGG
Platypus Game Play
A board is set up with 8 cards containing words around it.
2 players will be the guessers for the first round. They will show a number card (1-8) to the other players so they know which word they need to get the guessers to guess.
Players in turn order will play a card from their hand trying to lead the guessers towards the correct word. After playing a card, the guessers will discuss their options and turn 1 or 2 cards face down. If they turn down the word they’re trying to get, they lose the round and start a new one replacing that word.
As long as they don’t turn it face down, the next player plays a card and they continue. If they leave the right card face up they win a point and play a new round. Players try to win 4 rounds together without losing one.
Theme
No idea why the game is called and features a Platypus, other than the designer is Australian.
Setup
Board out, cards out, deal.
Components & Artwork
Standard components and barely any art.
I was sitting facing the ‘black on orange’ side of the word cards. I found reading the ‘black on white’ upsidedown side easier.
Ease of Teaching
Easy to teach. You just have to remind people not to talk if they’re not guessing. Just play the best card and shut up 🙂
Platypus Summary
When I think about co-op word games I immediately thought of Just One. It also reminded me of One Key which has the “Give a clue, eliminate the options” thing that Platypus has.
It’s interesting when you have awful cards and you play the best you can and cross your fingers and hope they can work with it.
Which is the one thing that confuses me about this game, that leaves the PERFECT opening for a traitor mechanism. Why wasn’t it included? It could have been like The Chameleon but with cards.
But, the game is not really good enough without it. It’s a tough niche to crack and while it could be up there with the other word games mentioned and games like Werewords, It is not.
Jesta ThaRogue