Quick
Look: Burger Up
Look: Burger Up
Designer: Matt ParkesPublisher: Rule & Make, Greenbrier Games
Year Published: 2016
No. of Players: 2–4
Ages: 14+ (rating from box, 9+ at other sites)
Playing Time: 45 minutes
Find
more info on BoardGameGeek.com
more info on BoardGameGeek.com
Review
Hamburgers
are the specialty. Every one of them is a work of art. Ingredients are added,
piled higher to create wonderful specialty sandwiches: Gourmet, Tower, or
Colossal. Orders have been placed and now it is time for the cooks to create.
are the specialty. Every one of them is a work of art. Ingredients are added,
piled higher to create wonderful specialty sandwiches: Gourmet, Tower, or
Colossal. Orders have been placed and now it is time for the cooks to create.
Burger
Up is a competition to earn the most money by building specialty sandwiches to fill
the Pending Orders before another cook does. When we sat down to play Burger Up
our first point of interest is the fact the game is rated for players 14 years
and older. We figured there had to be a level of strategy that required
planning and observation, and none of us were disappointed.
Up is a competition to earn the most money by building specialty sandwiches to fill
the Pending Orders before another cook does. When we sat down to play Burger Up
our first point of interest is the fact the game is rated for players 14 years
and older. We figured there had to be a level of strategy that required
planning and observation, and none of us were disappointed.
Setup
Players
start with 2 bottom buns. Throughout the game you can only build 2 burgers at a
time. Each player also gets $2, a pristine spatula, and 4 ingredient cards.
start with 2 bottom buns. Throughout the game you can only build 2 burgers at a
time. Each player also gets $2, a pristine spatula, and 4 ingredient cards.
 |
| Starting player layout |
The
rest of the ingredient cards are placed in the middle of the table: 3 turned up
for purchase in the Market and the rest are a draw pile.
Along
with the ingredients there are Pending Orders. The number of cards in the Order
Deck is based on the number of players. The top 3 cards are turned over to show
the Pending Orders. Each of the 3 showing Pending Orders has a $1 coin placed
on it.
with the ingredients there are Pending Orders. The number of cards in the Order
Deck is based on the number of players. The top 3 cards are turned over to show
the Pending Orders. Each of the 3 showing Pending Orders has a $1 coin placed
on it.
Determine
who is going first and they get the Player Aid card with the First Player icon.
This is important to know because everyone gets the same number of turns.
who is going first and they get the Player Aid card with the First Player icon.
This is important to know because everyone gets the same number of turns.
 |
| Starting Pending Orders and Market |
Gameplay
Players
have 4 phases when taking their turn: Market, Build, Burger Up, and Cleanup.
have 4 phases when taking their turn: Market, Build, Burger Up, and Cleanup.
Market
Phase
Phase
For
$1 the player may purchase an ingredient form the Market. Since there are 3
ingredients in the Market a player can buy up to 3 items. Once it is taken out
of the Market it is not replaced until Cleanup.
$1 the player may purchase an ingredient form the Market. Since there are 3
ingredients in the Market a player can buy up to 3 items. Once it is taken out
of the Market it is not replaced until Cleanup.
Build
Phase
Phase
This
is where you combine your ingredients to make your sandwich. Anything can go
next to (i.e. on or adjacent to) a bun; this also applies to middle buns that are part of the
ingredients but they don’t count for how big your burger is (more on that
later). All of the other ingredients dictate the type of ingredient that can be
placed next in your gastronomic delight.
is where you combine your ingredients to make your sandwich. Anything can go
next to (i.e. on or adjacent to) a bun; this also applies to middle buns that are part of the
ingredients but they don’t count for how big your burger is (more on that
later). All of the other ingredients dictate the type of ingredient that can be
placed next in your gastronomic delight.
You
can play up to 3 ingredients during your turn. The ingredients can go on the
same bottom bun, or be split between them. You can also play fewer than 3, but
that might mean you have to play catch-up to other players.
can play up to 3 ingredients during your turn. The ingredients can go on the
same bottom bun, or be split between them. You can also play fewer than 3, but
that might mean you have to play catch-up to other players.
Each
of the Ingredients cards can also be played in 1 of 2 ways. Each one lists two
ingredients and depending on the direction in which you play the card on the
existing stack determines which ingredient you’ve added and the type of
ingredient (there are 5) can be played next. This twist on turning the cards
gives more ingredients to use, but requires planning so you don’t leave
yourself in a position of not being able to put an ingredient onto your next
level.
of the Ingredients cards can also be played in 1 of 2 ways. Each one lists two
ingredients and depending on the direction in which you play the card on the
existing stack determines which ingredient you’ve added and the type of
ingredient (there are 5) can be played next. This twist on turning the cards
gives more ingredients to use, but requires planning so you don’t leave
yourself in a position of not being able to put an ingredient onto your next
level.
Middle
buns work like a wild card. They allow you to place the bun and start building
with a fresh start. Anything can be placed next to a bun.
buns work like a wild card. They allow you to place the bun and start building
with a fresh start. Anything can be placed next to a bun.
Since
everyone is building to fill the Pending Orders you also need to watch what
others are doing at their workstations. If you have to change what you’re doing
because an order has been filled, you can use your spatula to remove or move ingredients
form one bun to either the discard pile or to the other sandwich you’re making.
You only have 2 uses of your spatula and every use costs points at the end of
the game.
everyone is building to fill the Pending Orders you also need to watch what
others are doing at their workstations. If you have to change what you’re doing
because an order has been filled, you can use your spatula to remove or move ingredients
form one bun to either the discard pile or to the other sandwich you’re making.
You only have 2 uses of your spatula and every use costs points at the end of
the game.
 |
| Additional Ingredients (this might be upside down) |
Burger
Up Phase
Fill
the order and collect your pay. Not only do you get the coins placed on the
Pending Order card, but also for the ingredients on your sandwich. The bigger
the build the more it is worth. There are also Perfect Ingredients that, when
used, provide bonus payment.
the order and collect your pay. Not only do you get the coins placed on the
Pending Order card, but also for the ingredients on your sandwich. The bigger
the build the more it is worth. There are also Perfect Ingredients that, when
used, provide bonus payment.
When
an order has been filled you place the used Ingredients Cards in the discard
pile, keep the top bun card to show you made it, and turn over a new Pending
Order by drawing the top card from the Order Deck. A coin is placed on each of
the Pending Orders. The new Pending Order has $1 placed on it and the others
have $1 added to them. The longer it takes to fill an order the more money it’s
worth.
an order has been filled you place the used Ingredients Cards in the discard
pile, keep the top bun card to show you made it, and turn over a new Pending
Order by drawing the top card from the Order Deck. A coin is placed on each of
the Pending Orders. The new Pending Order has $1 placed on it and the others
have $1 added to them. The longer it takes to fill an order the more money it’s
worth.
Cleanup
Phase
Phase
This
is when Ingredients Cards are added back into the market. Then, the player
chooses to discard any cards left in their hand and draw their hand back to
four cards.
is when Ingredients Cards are added back into the market. Then, the player
chooses to discard any cards left in their hand and draw their hand back to
four cards.
Next
player’s turn starts.
player’s turn starts.
Theme
and Mechanics
and Mechanics
The
theme of building sandwiches kept the game fun. There are more than just
hamburgers. The change in Pending Orders during play left some cooks scrambling
to see how they could alter their creation to meet another order.
theme of building sandwiches kept the game fun. There are more than just
hamburgers. The change in Pending Orders during play left some cooks scrambling
to see how they could alter their creation to meet another order.
The
planning of ingredients across 5 types to meet the Pending Order requirements before
another player did created a challenge that required more strategy than
originally expected. This puzzle mechanic, determining the direction of the
Ingredients Card, which determines what is being added to the sandwich and what
can be played next, is the sole reason for the age determination. Younger
players with more gaming experience should be able to participate.
planning of ingredients across 5 types to meet the Pending Order requirements before
another player did created a challenge that required more strategy than
originally expected. This puzzle mechanic, determining the direction of the
Ingredients Card, which determines what is being added to the sandwich and what
can be played next, is the sole reason for the age determination. Younger
players with more gaming experience should be able to participate.
 |
| Scoring the Iron Giant |
Artwork
and Components
The
art is done by Stephen Gibson and they give it a light-hearted look. The art
makes the game look as fun as it played.
art is done by Stephen Gibson and they give it a light-hearted look. The art
makes the game look as fun as it played.
The
components are also nice and should hold up against continual play.
components are also nice and should hold up against continual play.
The
Good
Good
- Multiple
levels of strategy, during play and for earning the money for the end game.
The
Bad
Bad
- The
look on the shelf can be deceiving to the required strategy.
Final
Thoughts
Thoughts
The
rule book describes a World Expansion so you can expand your menu. There is
also a Game Recipe Book which includes 6 variants and “an actual burger
recipe!”
rule book describes a World Expansion so you can expand your menu. There is
also a Game Recipe Book which includes 6 variants and “an actual burger
recipe!”
For
the international gamers, the credits show Burger Up is printed in 14 languages.
the international gamers, the credits show Burger Up is printed in 14 languages.
We
had 5 players at the table for Burger Up, so I watched and took notes while
others played the first game. I’m looking forward to getting my grill dirty and
taking them on to see who the better line cook is.
had 5 players at the table for Burger Up, so I watched and took notes while
others played the first game. I’m looking forward to getting my grill dirty and
taking them on to see who the better line cook is.
Players
Who Like
Who Like
- Food
based games - Head-to-head
competition games
Check out Burger Up on
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.
