Little Rocket Games - "Insert Coin To Play"

Photo above is property of Little Rocket Games

Company: Little Rocket Games

Game: Insert Coin To Play

Country: Italy 🇮🇹

Language: English

Type of Game: Tabletop Game (Board Game) 📬

Genre: Video Game, Flip and Write

Date Played: April 12, 2024

Difficulty (based on 3 players): 2/10

Size of Team: 2-8 ppl

Time: 15 Mins.

Price: $19.95 USD

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Using the symbols, complete the levels and unlock their abilities. The player with the highest score at the end, wins!

Video above is property of Little Rocket Games

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The box has a simple, 8 bit arcade machine on it with a simple design. Inside, you will find the instructions, a stack of GamePad sheets, some pencils, a quick reference guide for the shapes and a deck of cards.

Photos above are property of Little Rocket Games

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The goal of the game is to have the most points at the end, which you gain for completing your shapes, having coins, and having lives. You start the game by shuffling the cards and dealing 4 to each player. Each player chooses one and hands the remainder to the left. Rinse and repeat until each player has 3 cards. The shapes on the 3 cards will be the ones you will have to complete, which are considered levels. Trace those shapes onto your GamePad. Shuffle all the cards again and add in the 2 Game Over cards. You are now ready to play.

Flip over a card and look at the bottom corners. Each side will have a symbol on it (which are different polyominoes). Choose one and color it in in one of your shapes. If you are unable to do that or choose not to use it, you lose a life and get to place a single block anywhere you want. If you run out of lives, you have to insert one of your 3 coins to get another 3 lives. When you turn up the first Game Over card, you must have completed 1 level by having one shape filled in. If you do not have a shape complete, you must insert one coin to continue. When you flip over the 2nd Game Over card, you must have completed 2 levels.

Each shape also has an ability that gets activated once you complete it. These include getting to use both symbols on the next card or having other players lose a life. Some card’s ability will also give you a bonus if you pair them with another shape card.

The game ends in one of 4 ways. When you run out of cards, when someone finishes all their shapes, when someone runs out of coins and lives or when someone cannot insert a coin when a Game Over card is flipped. The score is then tallied. You get 3 points for any coins left over, 1 point for any remaining lives and the amount that your shape is worth minus how many squares are left unfilled. Highest score wins!

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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There were a few strategies that worked for us in this game. I personally tried to take the symbol with the most blocks in the design and fill in one of the shapes as fast as possible. That worked for me for a few games but there were times when I would build myself into a corner. The kids would try to select the shapes that would work off each other and try to build them in a way that would get them the best bonuses. One thing for sure though, is we needed to know how to properly place the symbols to keep options open. We did not want to leave areas where no symbols would fit. One tip would be to make sure you get familiar with the symbols and what abilities would work off each other.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

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"Insert Coin To Play" was a quick game that we played multiple times in each sitting. It was easy enough for the kids to get into but had enough variety for adults to enjoy. The nostalgic theme also added to the love of the game as well as the simple art style. We played with 4 people but since everyone plays at the same time and there is minimal interaction, I can see how this could easily accommodate 8 people. Anyone who likes simple flip and write games or has a love of 8-bit art would love to play this game. Insert Coin to Play will definitely hit the table many more times and we will happily insert coins to continue playing it.

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(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

#MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #BoardGames #PuzzleByMail #LittleRocketGames #VideoGames #Italy