Tiki Topple Strategy Game Overview

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

Disclosure

Our adventures in finding games at thrift stores doesn’t solely happen at home. You never know what you’ll find at a Goodwill Outlet so we cannot resist visiting one of those during summer travels. Whether visiting Grammy in Alabama, a trip to a convention or a quick outing to Chicago, chances are we’ll pop into some local thrift outlet to see if we can find any hidden treasures. The girls are always along for the ride but aren’t always as excited as we are… until they find a game that they’ve been wanting to get. Then they’re all in.

A while back, Kennedy surprised us upon discovering Tiki Topple on the shelf at the thrift store. As per our normal routine, we opened it up to ensure all the pieces were present. To her disappointment, it was missing a piece of the totem pole. Luckily, we received a copy of the game direct from Gamewright and were able to make all things right in her world again. After playing it, I understand her allure. The unique nature of the game makes it unpredictable. The best way to describe it is like trying to get a row of kindergartners lined up with 4 teachers each having different ideas of what order to put them in. Or maybe a better description is that it’s like a horse race where everyone is working to get their three horses into the top spots. Nah... I like the kindergarten analogy better.

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

While Tiki Topple works as a two player game, I feel it’s more unpredictable and enjoyable with a full compliment of four. When you’re ready to play, place the board in the center of the table with the tiki pieces next to it with the flat side up (face down). Group the symbols together then place them on the tower in those groups. The order of those groups doesn’t matter. Everyone selects a color of their choice, collects the related cards in that color and places the token on the scoring track. The deck of secret tiki cards is shuffled and placed along the board. Each player draws one at the beginning of each round to determine their random assortment of tiki pieces to navigate to the top.

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

The deck of player cards may vary based on the number of players but all participants begin with identical hands. On your turn, you’ll play one of the cards to shift the positioning of the tiki pieces. Cards include Tiki Up 1, 2 or 3 which moves any tiki in the row up that number of spaces.

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

The Tiki Topple card allows the player to select one tiki piece and move it all the way to the bottom of the line. Tiki Toast, which cannot be used on your first turn of the round, removes the bottom tiki piece from the board and from any possibility of scoring for the round.

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

When everyone has used all their cards or the sixth tiki is removed from the board, the round ends. Players compare their secret objective card to the final placement on the board and score accordingly. If you managed to get your top tiki to the top and remain there, you’ll earn 9 points. If your second position tiki ended the game in the second OR first spot, you earn 5 points. Your third position tiki will earn 2 points if it finishes in any of the top three spots. 

Use strategy to maneuver your tiki pieces into the top spots in Tiki Topple from Gamewright. - SahmReviews.com

The game continues until each player (in a 3 or 4 player game) has taken the opportunity to be the first player. In a two player game, you’ll play four rounds total. At the end of the designated number of rounds, the player who has scored the most overall wins. 

Tiki Topple is a quick game that can be enjoyed by players of many ages. While the box says 10+, I have no doubt younger kids could play once taught the rules. Look for Tiki Topple on Amazon for under $20 or keep watch for it at your local game retailer. See what else is stacking up at Gamewright by following their latest news on Twitter and Facebook. If playing Tiki Topple inspires you to head to warmer climates, check out our articles about what to consider before booking a cruise or where to stay at Disney!

Have you ever played a jockeying game like this?

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