Wouter & Ymke 
In SETUP, strategy meets luck, and every turn presents a new challenge. At its heart, SETUP is about creating sets with card tiles. The objective? Propel your scoring marker to the finish line before anyone else, achieved by creating larger sets that earn you more points.
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 25 minutes
📝 Designer: Jacob Berg
🏢 Publisher: Bezzerwizzer Studio (Distributed by Asmodee Belgium)
Players embark on their SETUP journey with a tile holder and a scoring marker. Four common squares at the center of the board hold the initial four tiles drawn from a bag of fifty. Each player also gets four tiles in their tile holder, forming their personal “hand.” Additionally, four tiles are displayed beside the board, constituting a shared resource pool or the common “hand.”
🔄 On your turn, you can choose between two options: you can either enhance the board with new sets or swap tiles from your hand with those in the bag. Sets can be created by placing and connecting tiles with identical numbers across different suits, or consecutive numbers within the same suit. Flexibility abounds as you can form these sets using tiles from your personal hand, the common hand, or a mix of both.
The points you earn correspond to moving your scoring marker. Post-scoring, you refill both the common hand and your personal hand. Players also have the chance to score points even on their opponents’ turns. If a player’s tiles on their personal bonus squares form a part of the sets made by the active player, bonus points are awarded.
🏁 The end of the game is signaled when a player’s scoring marker reaches the finish line, with that player emerging victorious.
🤝 SETUP also offers a team play mode for those who relish collaboration. Now the objective becomes to avoid being the team with the last scoring marker when the first one crosses the finish line. While each player still has individual tiles and plays individually, teammates can now strategize together.
SETUP, designed by Jacob Berg, is a dynamic, engaging game that caters to a wide audience. With its simple rules and quick gameplay of roughly 25 minutes, it is suitable for 2-4 players aged 8 and up. This game’s core appeal lies in its accessibility – even those not familiar with regular board gaming can easily grasp and enjoy it.
🧩 Every turn in SETUP unfolds like a mini puzzle, challenging players to create sets using their tile cards. The ease of explaining the rules complements this design, making it a perfect fit for any gathering.
🎯 While luck does play a role in SETUP, depending on what tiles you draw, it doesn’t overpower the strategic aspect of the game. With fifty tiles in total, numbered from 1 to 10 and spread across five different suits, it offers a chance for those with sharp memories to keep track of which tiles have been played.
🔄 Our favorite aspect of SETUP is the opportunity for players to score points even during their opponents’ turns. This keeps everyone engaged in the game at all times, ensuring there’s hardly any downtime. It adds an extra layer of excitement, as no turn passes without the potential for advancement.
🏆 SETUP is a fast-paced family game, resembling classics like Rummikub in genre, designed to cater to a broad audience. It’s a delightful mix of simplicity, strategy, and suspense, where each game is a fresh, enjoyable experience.
⚠️ Disclaimer: A review copy was kindly provided by Asmodee Belgium for this review.
