"Captain Flip": A mischievous laying game for 2 to 5 people aged 8 and up (Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori at PlayPunk).
Am I satisfied with what I have - or do I risk it for the chance of something better? "Captain Flip" translates this fundamental question of human existence into a wonderfully simple mechanic that gives each move its own tension curve: On your turn, you draw a tile from the bag, but are only allowed to look at the top side and have to decide: Add this person to your crew or turn it over? But then there's no turning back, and there's great glee in the group when someone makes a mistake. This lively pirate game comes with four different plans and pretty combinations between the different tiles, which you puzzle together to get as much loot as possible on your own board. When four of the five columns are full, the game ends - and the richest player wins.
Jury statement:
This very accessible placement game offers simple decisions that everyone can get excited about. With very few rules, it creates a thrilling game experience that remains exciting right to the end. Luck can turn quickly - and if you push it too far, you can be completely knocked out of the ranking. Thanks to the short duration of the game, this is not too dramatic: the demand for a rematch is usually realised immediately.