Stamp collectors rejoice! Collect, swap and place your beautiful (though maybe damaged) stamps in your collection and compete to have the most valuable collection by the end of the convention.
Was this game sent for review or self-purchased?: This game was kindly sent for review by Stonemaier Games.
In two sentences, what do you do in the game: You take turns selected, swapping, and placing stamps while taking your tickets to attend your shows. Your decisions on selection and placement will affect your points, as well as your selection on which shows to attend, giving the game an asymmetrical flair.
Have we played any other titles by this publisher?: We have played numerous games by Stonemaier and we are always impressed by the quality and care that goes into each game.
What was surprising about this title: This game puts a bit of a twist in selection as you really have to think of ways to trip up your opponents as they will inevitably take some of your stamps. This means that while you might have plans for your stamp placement, those plans may fall flat as your opponents take them. You must select stamps to gain points and give to your opponents to decrease their score. This means you have to have two options yourself and hope you end up with the better option but still be able to make the scoring conditions work just in case.
How likely is this to return to the game table?: Very likely. It’s a game that chugs along and some steps are done simultaneously. It plays fast and it has scoring conditions and drawing conditions that change every game, making for a refreshing experience every time.
Game length: 20-60 minutes. The game gets longer with more players. It is easy to teach and someone can jump in, in a matter of minutes.
Language Barrier Playability: Moderately easy. Text is minimal but important in this game. Scoring conditions and round conditions must be translated but are simple enough that they can be remembered easily. Reminders are easily done with a quick read if anyone needs a refresher. As always, reminder cards are greatly appreciated and are a great help.
Artwork: Postal. The game is beautiful. The stamps have a variety of colors, themes and rare stamps are foil! It is exciting to add a beautiful rare stamp to your collection. We also found a cat that we are sure is supposed to be the creator Jamey Stegmaier’s cat and the St. Louis Arch where Stonemaier Games is located.
Quality: Superb. The game is sturdy, components are beautifully crafted and will last many years. Stonemaier Games never sacrifice quality and are made with care.
Strategy: Moderate. There are definitely layers to the strategy but even if you fly by the seat of your pants, you can still have an enjoyable experience. It is a nice middle ground that can be played with older kids and still be challenging to adults.
Instruction Manual: Very well made and easy to read through. Clarification is exemplified in detail at the end of the book. It doesn’t elaborate a whole lot on the theme and doesn’t go into too many examples while still providing good instruction.
Organization: The game neatly fits into the box and can be put away and set up in a couple of minutes. The stamps come in a storage container that is organized by stamp shape/size and the rest of the components fit, without trouble, on the other side of the box.
Final thoughts: Stamp Swap is an easy to play, and unexpectedly strategic game that will make you want to collect stamps and maybe send a post card to someone. It makes you appreciate the small little square stickers that sit on your envelopes and it feels great to pick up certain themes or colors to gain tons of points for the round. It can be taught in just a few minutes and has enough variety to bring it to the table many times.
Sushiball Games 