Quick Look: BARPIG, and BARPIG: After Hours (expansion)
Designer: Johnathan
Franklin and Phillip Melcher
Franklin and Phillip Melcher
Artwork: Frederick
van de Bunt
van de Bunt
Publisher: Self-Published
Year
Published: 2017, 2019
Published: 2017, 2019
No. of
Players: 3–7
Players: 3–7
Ages: 13+
Playing Time: 30–45
minutes
minutes
Review
BARPIG and BARPIG: After Hours are both about having fun doing odd things and
making others do them, too. This is not a game of heavy strategy. This is for
playing with friends when you all want to get wacky and laugh.
making others do them, too. This is not a game of heavy strategy. This is for
playing with friends when you all want to get wacky and laugh.
Some won’t want younger players in a game about drinking. However, BARPIG is not a hard game to learn and could easily be learned by players below the
age range.
age range.
If you are looking for a game for an older crowd, yeah, BARPIG is right
there with the theme, art, and language.
there with the theme, art, and language.
We had four players for our test game. We were laughing and having fun. I
know we will be playing BARPIG again if for no other reason than I have people
already telling me they want to play it based on seeing the name, box, and some
of the cards. The four of us who played also agreed we wanted to play again
with more people. BARPIG presents itself for a group of 6–7 players for maximum
enjoyment.
know we will be playing BARPIG again if for no other reason than I have people
already telling me they want to play it based on seeing the name, box, and some
of the cards. The four of us who played also agreed we wanted to play again
with more people. BARPIG presents itself for a group of 6–7 players for maximum
enjoyment.
Setup
Each playerhas a character to start with (though I doubt you’ll finish with the same one) and two
cards for tracking your progress. These are designed to sit on top of each
other in front of you. Along with those you start with, you get an item card.
The extra character cards are set aside so they are available and the rest of
the item cards are shuffled and placed in a pile on the table.
Gameplay
Each round
starts with everyone rolling a d6. High roll wins. That person gains a level
and they read off their character’s power. Then some havoc
starts. The power is engaged and cards can be played to alter what’s happening.
starts with everyone rolling a d6. High roll wins. That person gains a level
and they read off their character’s power. Then some havoc
starts. The power is engaged and cards can be played to alter what’s happening.
The powers
range from memory and dexterity challenges and other oddities usually
associated with drinking games. Some of these are racing to a declared object
in the room, hand slapping, staring, and giving compliments.
range from memory and dexterity challenges and other oddities usually
associated with drinking games. Some of these are racing to a declared object
in the room, hand slapping, staring, and giving compliments.
For example:
From BARPIG, Pourceror has “Hex of animality—Choose an animal which all other
players must imitate,” and from After Hours, Bockaneer has “Mercenary Code—Secretly
choose an object you can see. Describe the object one word at a time, while all
other players point to what they think is your chosen object.”
From BARPIG, Pourceror has “Hex of animality—Choose an animal which all other
players must imitate,” and from After Hours, Bockaneer has “Mercenary Code—Secretly
choose an object you can see. Describe the object one word at a time, while all
other players point to what they think is your chosen object.”
Players then
adjust their scoring as needed and move on to the next round. This time the
player who won the last roll off doesn’t get to participate. But once you’ve
sat out one roll get your six-sided die ready.
adjust their scoring as needed and move on to the next round. This time the
player who won the last roll off doesn’t get to participate. But once you’ve
sat out one roll get your six-sided die ready.
The first
player to make it to level five wins.
player to make it to level five wins.
Theme and
Mechanics
The title
gives away pretty much everything about the theme for BARPIG. The porcine theme
is carried through with the art and the names of the characters. Everything
appears to be a mashup between pork and liquor.
gives away pretty much everything about the theme for BARPIG. The porcine theme
is carried through with the art and the names of the characters. Everything
appears to be a mashup between pork and liquor.
There is the
rolling the die for high number, deciding when to collect a card, and deciding
when to play one. But, the real mechanic of BARPIG is the ability to respond to
the powers on the character cards.
rolling the die for high number, deciding when to collect a card, and deciding
when to play one. But, the real mechanic of BARPIG is the ability to respond to
the powers on the character cards.
Artwork and Components
The artwork is
good and is designed to be fun. There is a mature nature to many of the
components.
good and is designed to be fun. There is a mature nature to many of the
components.
The Good
- Easy to learn
- Plays up to 7
- Fast paced and wacky activities
The Bad
- The adult
level of humor will turn some away
Final Thoughts
BARPIG and
After Hours is a good cabin game (easy to pack and don’t need a lot of space)
for older players. With the right group, there will be laughter and shenanigans.
After Hours is a good cabin game (easy to pack and don’t need a lot of space)
for older players. With the right group, there will be laughter and shenanigans.
Players Who
Like
Like
- Watching their
friends do strange things - Lighthearted
games with minor strategy
Check out BARPIG and After Hours on:
On KICKSTARTER now. Campaign ends July 1, 2019.
Daniel Yocom – Reviewer
Daniel Yocom does geeky things by night because his day job won’t let him. This dates back to the 1960s through games, books, movies, and stranger things better shared in small groups. He’s written hundreds of articles about these topics for his own blog, other websites, and magazines along with stories, after extensive research. His research includes attending conventions, sharing on panels and presentations, and road-tripping with his wife. Join in the geeky fun at guildmastergaming@blogspot.com.
See Daniel’s reviews HERE.
