Triplica: A Simple, Quick, and Fun Addition to Any Game Night
Triplica, published by Fun Q Games in 2010, is a simple, quick, and easy to learn card game, meant for ages 7+. It employs a straight forward matching system to complete goals. The player must place 'Play Cards', which have a unique set of 3 symbols, onto the existing piles to create 3 of a kind either horizontally or diagonally, in hopes of matching one of their 'Goal Cards'. As simple as it sounds, there are actually 3 different versions of the game you can play (they sure do enjoy that number, don't they?): All Play, Single Play, and Solitaire. The All Play and Single Play versions support 2-6 players, and the Solitaire version is just that, solitaire.
The 96 cards (60 Play Cards and 36 Goal Cards) are fairly well crafted; thick and made of a glossy plastic, similar to what you would find with a deck of Bicycle playing cards. The only other items inside the box are a small instruction booklet and some cardboard spacers which keep the cards in the center of the box, stacked upon each other. My only gripe against the box design is the lack of separate slots for the two types of playing cards. Thankfully the cards have not yet mixed together inside the box.
The gameplay itself is simple to explain and comprehend, but does require a bit of strategy to win. This can be seen more prevalently with 2 players going head to head in an All Play match. I found that it takes a little psychology and getting into the players head to compete effectively. As you add players, the playable space scales up as well by adding additional rows, so there are more play options. This tended to decrease the direct impact of the players moves. Also, my only concerns were with how the person taking their turn ahead of me played their Play Card, and what the symbol of the Goal Card was for the player following my turn. The other players had a significantly smaller impact in the decision making of my turns.
There was also a marketable difference between the two multiplayer game types. The Single Play version relies more upon luck of the draw than strategic card placement. While some strategy was still required, it was not nearly as much as the All Play game type. One issue that appeared in Single Play occurred during a head to head match. If both players get down to one Goal Card remaining, the game can easily get stuck in a stalemate.
Most of the games ran 10-15 minutes, including setup, and the number of players didn't seem to affect the game durations. This is ideal for someone looking to get a quick game to play. Although the games went by relatively quickly, I found that the other players involved had the urge to keep playing.
One other interesting thing about Triplica is that it is color blind friendly. The shapes of the symbols on the cards are large and distinct enough to be able to play without any major issues. Whether this was intentional by Fun Q Games is unknown, but kudos to them for it!
Triplica models itself after the classic game of tic-tac-toe, but with a dash of strategy, a little pinch of luck, and a whole lot of fun. Add a little competition to the mix and throw in a board game such as Game of Life, Ticket to Ride, or The Settlers of Catan and you have yourself the recipe for a great family friendly game night.
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Posted by Critical Gamers Staff at January 26, 2011 7:21 AM
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