New Family Game SETUP a Unassuming Hit

The board game industry is growing quicker than many people realize, and for the most part, it feels like the flashier titles rise to the top, while the more subtle, less appealing games sink to the bottom. All of this factors in look, not necessarily the experience of playing a game. When Asmodee Canada reached out with the opportunity to look at SETUP, I wasn’t overly interested. However, as a media member in the board game space, it seemed almost a requirement to cover the latest game coming from Bezzerwizzer Studio.

We won’t go into great detail on how to play in this review, but you can check out the video from fellow Canadian, Rodney Smith, below!

I’m glad I did, and perhaps this is letting the cat out of the bag. I really enjoyed SETUP, and while it’s not flashy in any way, it hits the mark where it counts: the gameplay. In SETUP, “Players combine suits and numbers on card-like tiles to earn points. Placement is key, as you can create combinations in any direction or even stack tiles to throw off an opponent. A single tile placement can earn points on multiple sets as it extends in various directions but be careful not to help opponents create their own sets!”

One reason I enjoy SETUP so much is that the setup – no pun intended – is so incredibly simple. Even after only one game, I could get a game of SETUP, setup – pun intended – in just 30 seconds or so. It’s not often I pull a game from the 300 in my collection and set it up in 30 seconds!

Teaching the game is equally as easy, letting players know how to create sets and score points. SETUP feels like something you’ve played before, but yet different enough that you are intrigued by the possibilities. In a sense, you could argue that SETUP feels familiar, even though it isn’t. And if there is one thing I know about playing games, is that the more familiar a concept or game seems, the more enjoyable it is likely to be.

Simple setup, simple gameplay. That is the recipe for success! Sets are considered any run of numbers of the same suit – clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades, or stars – or any run of the same number. You score points based on the number of tiles in your sequence. So if you had 4 #5 tiles connected, you would earn 4 points. When laying tiles, you can create more than one sequence at a time, providing great strategic opportunities.

There is also a team game that can be played, which allows older players to carry younger players. This was a popular way for us to play with my 9 year old, as it was great to help him with his tiles, while giving him freedom to make decisions on his own.

This is really the basics of SETUP. I love how simplistic it is to play, yet there is a decent amount of depth in the gameplay to make each game feel unique. Manipulating numbers has never been a strong gameplay mechanic for myself, but yet I still really enjoy this one. I might never win – and probably never will – but I’m having a great time playing it. For a relatively reasonable price of 39.99, I think this is a great game to add for some quick entertainment options for friends and family.