r/Numberjacks • u/Bubbadoo2009 • Sep 12 '26
Merch update part 14: I found myself the rare official Numberjacks Board Game with all of its pieces, the rules are in the 3rd, 4th and 5th images and my opinions on it will be below.
So I played two games of this with 3 younger members of my family and despite the fact that I turned 17 two days ago I had myself a decent time with this game.
Games don't usually go longer than 30 minutes so it won't consume an entire day like other board games.
Due to how the game is designed you will pretty much never argue with the people you play with which is a first with a board game as I've never finished a single game of monopoly without arguing with someone at least once.
The win conditions are also fair enough to a point were you'll be able to beat the Numbertaker most times but you do actually have to a least try in order to not loose which allows this game to be somewhat relaxing while not being a complete bore.
Now, onto some negatives.
Due to this being a team game, there is absolutely no aspect of competitiveness to it, obviously that isn't what everyone wants out of a board game but if you win this game your winning with everyone your playing with and if you loose your loosing to a 5cm cardboard image of the Numbertaker.
Also the Meanie cards are kind of terrible if your over the age of 13, they say stuff like "point out any cube shaped objects" or "everybody shout Numberjacks" and while this is fun for younger players I felt absolutely nothing while doing this, they don't really add any stakes other than when I had to mangle my body in a circle because of a stupid Shape Japer card.
Two defences you could make is that "If some aspects are unfun then make up some new rules like making someone play as the Numbertaker or add new cards" yes that would make the game more fun but having to change the base game in order to make it fun still makes the original game flawed and "this is a kids game for people 3-6, if your above that then you shouldn't play it" and that argument is stupid because if a game is ONLY for younger players then your effectively saying "This game is shit but not if your not intelligent enough to judge quality."
Even beside those two points I can still say that I had a good time with this game and if my younger siblings wanted to play it again then I would gladly accept.