Title: Overstocked
Designed By: Mandela Fernandez-Grandon
Art By: Archie Edwards
Published By: Play For Keeps
Released: 2022
Player Count: 1-6
Time to Play: Minutes
Ages: 6+
Overview:
90s kids! Ever want a game that will seriously trigger your nostalgia for the good old days? Let me introduce you to Overstocked from Play for Keeps. In Overstocked you are managing a toy warehouse filled with some of your favorite toys from the 90s. In this hang management, pattern building game players will have to craftily work to organize their warehouse with the hottest toys, but be careful not to overly invest in the wrong toy or you will lose!
What's purr-ty cool:
Let's start out with something very simple and straightforward, I really liked this game. I am a 90s kid and the theme really hooked me from the get-go. I owned a shameful amount of Furbies (think like 7..yes, I owned 7 Furbies lol) and Beany Babies. My mom likes to tell me that she used to have to take care of my Tamagotchi when I went to school, so it wouldn't die on me. So clearly, the theme of this game speaks to my inner child. But, not only is the theme cute, the game is a lot of fun to play as well.
The rules are simple and quick to learn. The game is played in rounds and the rounds go fast. Each player has 6 cards to start. Simultaneously players decide on a card to play from their hand. Whichever player played the lowest numbered card then goes first for part two of the turn. Players then take turns one at a time to play their card into their their own warehouse or the popularity. Cards must overlap exactly 1 or two existing toys in either space, but may not cover workers. The goal is to increase the popularity of a toy so that you score more points for it at the end of the game. Points are scored based on how popular a toy is versus how many you have in your own warehouse, so players must decide which location is more advantageous to their end game. It takes a minute to get a hang of how scoring works, but after a game or two, it is pretty easy to grasp.
Because of the limited amount of cards each player has, there is a truly interesting puzzle to be solved. You do not draw more cards through the game, so what you have at the beginning is what you will have the entire game. You then have to work around how your opponents are playing in order to try and make their toys worth less and yours worth more. It's a very satisfying puzzle.
Overstocked is perfect for when you want a light game that plays quick, for a wide range of players. You can play it solo, all the way up to with 6 people. It is also a really small box game so it is easy to bring with you on the go.
What's more the base game also includes three mini expansions and an advanced variant so you can mix up your games or up the difficulty level you are playing at.
I think Overstock is a hidden gem of a game that more people should definitely check out!
Disclosure: Pudgy Cat Games was provided a copy of this game in exchange for a review, however, this review reflects the honest thoughts of the author.