This is a simple game to learn and takes only about 20 minutes to play, but it is unique and fun for the whole family! It comes with 72 two-sided character tiles with a different crew member on each side. There are nine different characters with unique rewards or actions that have either immediate or end-game effects, and because cards are two-sided with a different combination of characters on each, they are all unique. There are ten different ships/adventure boards, so up to 5 people can play with four different challenges/ships. All players use the same chosen ship to keep the challenge level even between them. Besides the game manual, the other components are player aids to better explain each type of crew members’ actions and a treasure map, which the first player starts with. The map rewards the player who possesses it with a coin at the end of their turn, but it will move between players during the game.
When gameplay begins, players take turns randomly drawing a crew member tile from the bag and choosing one side to place face-up. Looking at their ship, which consists of spaces for 15 different tiles arranged in five different columns, a decision is made about the tile’s placement. Each tile must be placed in the lowest empty position on a column. It can be played in any column, though, and there are different rewards at the top of some of the columns that vary based on the ship mat used. The other decision is whether to keep the revealed crew member or “flip” the tile to the other side, which is unknown. Some crew members have immediate effects that are only applied when the tile is placed. Other crew members have effects that are only applied at the end of the game. There are two characters that have both immediate and game-end effects.
Two examples of immediate effects include:
- Cook – Take 1 coin per character in their row, including the Cook themselves
- Cartographer – Take the Treasure Map and place it near your board
- Carpenter – Take 3 coins if there is no Gunner in either their row or column
- Lookout – Take 4 coins if there is no Character above this tile, in this column
Gunner – Immediate effect: Take 5 coins; Game-end effect: If you have 3 or more Gunners on your board, you lose the game.
With this overview of the opportunities to collect coins and the challenges of tile-placement type and positioning on the map, you might see how this simple game combines planning, strategy, and some risk when flipping a tile to an unknown character.
Once a player completes any 4 of the 5 columns on their ship, finish that round. All players apply any end-game effects and count their coins, and the Captain with the most coins wins! I have just flipped for this game and can’t wait to introduce it to all my mateys! Captain Flip was nominated for several awards in 2024, with the prestigious Speil Des Jahres Award being the most notable. ~ Marsha