In this article we will take a look at the family game Stomp the Plank. This is a push your luck game where you will be trying to get as many different treasures without getting caught and being forced to walk the plank.
The first time I came across this game was at UK Games Expo in 2023 where this game was being demonstrated by the Hachette Boardgames Team. The energy at the stand and the excitement around this game instantly peaked my interest about finding out more about the game.
First Impressions
Upon coming across this game the first thing that stood out to me was the colourful and fun artwork. I loved the cartoon styling they went for on this and how they used the elephants clothing to denote the player colours. Another thing I really liked about this game is that is utilised the use of the game box in the game creating the ship the elephant will be walking off the plank of. The other thing that stood out to me was the shear excitement and buzz at the stand around this game that the gameplay offered promise.
Game Play Overview
Stomp the Plank is played over a series of turns where you will push your luck to try and be the last pirate standing on the ship by drawing cards and trying to not get the same treasure on the pontoon on your turn.
On your turn you will start your turn by revealing the first card from the draw pile and placing it on the leftmost available spot. You then must choose it you will draw another card or if you will stop where you are. If you choose to draw a card you will draw a card and place it in the next available spot as long as it is not the same type of treasure you get to choose to stop or draw again. If the player does draw two treasures that are the same they have been caught by the captain and must walk the plank. When doing this you will move your elephant one space down on your plank board. If you are able to draw six different treasures in a row you will automatically win the game.
If you choose to stop on your turn you will end your turn and then all the players must place crate tokens on the end of their plank equal to the number indicated above the last card played. If a players plank tips and the elephant falls off that players loses and is knocked out. Once your turn is finished you clear the cards from the board and the next player takes their turn.
The game can be played in two ways, till one player falls in resulting in one person losing and the rest winning or my personal favourite version to be the last elephant standing.
Pros and Cons
This game has many positives going in its favour, it is easy to set up, the components have been created to a very good quality and the game is fun and engaging. The only downside would be the light nature of the rules which could be a problem for people who want more depth to the game though due to how light the rules are for the game it makes the game more accessible meaning it will probably see more table time with more people of different abilities. I also really like the choice to use the game box in the game as it gives the game a third dimension and makes the game as fun as the artwork that was chosen for the game.
Final Verdict
Overall, I really enjoy this game it is super easy to teach and is great fun causing it to become a family favourite with my mother in law and my friends kids. This game is a fantastic game for someone looking for an accessible game that does not take too long to play and can get the whole family involved. Other games that you may also enjoy if you like this game and other push your luck style games is Into the Blue and MLEM.
In conclusion, we would rate this game a 9.6/10
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