Chaos & Confetti

In Good Puppers, players are working to assemble a yard full of dogs which will then bury as many bones as they can. This is a light strategy game with engine building elements.  As players gather more puppers to their team, their effects will increase in power and benefits.

It’s true, more dogs really is better.  

Player Count: 2-5  

Ages: 9+

Playtime: 30 minutes

GAME PLAY:

Players will first fill the dog park by placing random face up dog cards in the middle of the play space.  This number should be equal to the number of players plus one.  Then, each player is given a hand of three cards.  

Once the game begins, each player will select one of their three cards and place in face down on their reference card.  At the same time, all players will reveal their selected dog.  Each dog has a speed between 0 and 99.  In order from highest to lowest, everyone will take their turn.

On their turn, players take three steps.  First they add their revealed dog to their dog park.  If it’s the first of its breed it will start a new column. In later turns, dogs of the same breed will be place on top of each other in an overlapping fashion.  Then, the dog’s special trick (each dog has a unique one) will activate.  Powers include ways to bury bones (place facedown cards beneath dogs), move bones amongst dogs, upgrade bones, and more.  Finally, a new dog will be added to the player’s hand from the dog park.

After everyone has taken their turn for the round, a new one will begin.  The dog park will be refilled and then, everyone once again selects a dog in secret and takes turns based on their dog’s number.  Gameplay will continue like this until eventually, the dog park cannot be refilled.  That will be the game’s final round.  Everything will play out the same, except players will not refill their hands at the end of the turn.  

As the game progresses, players’ dog abilities will gain in power as there are more dogs to count in triggers and more bones to interact with on the field.  At the end of the game, will trigger their end of game bonuses and count up the score from their bones.  The player with the highest bone score wins!

It’s a battle to see who the big dog is!

OUR THOUGHTS:

Good Puppers is an easy to pick up drafting and engine building game that most players will understand pretty quickly.  However, with each play, the potential power of different combinations and strategies should reveal themselves.  Players will enjoy figuring out the game and then adjusting their plans as each game gives them different card choices.

Good Puppers doesn’t have massive depth of gameplay, but there is enough variety and the game flow is quick enough that most should find it enjoyable. It works as a strong introductory game for those with less experience, an easier game for younger players, or a fast game for shorter playtimes.  The minimal set up makes this an easy game to get to the table.

One of the big selling points will be the game’s cuteness.  The art is adorable, and the theme is solidly tied into the overall game play.

Good Puppers is a solid game base and it would be interesting to see how the game could expand… which is great because  Good Puppers, Too! is launching on BackerKit on February 3, 20225.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

We’d recommend Good Puppers to those in search of a quick and light strategy game that leans into its cuteness.  A good choice for younger players too. 

Disclaimer: we were provided with a free copy of Good Puppers at PAX Unplugged, but with no expectation/requirements of a review.