Kabuto Sumo

Note: This is a short really early legacy review before I started posting longer form review in our Facebook Group.

Another end to another term of schooling for the boys and teaching for me. But that means it’s half term and it’s time to join Jack(6) and Toby(3) for the “Bailey family Valentines Halfterm Board game mini-marathon!” try saying that after a few drinks…

Game 1 for this little trip is Kabuto Sumo. The best way to describe the game is a competitive coin pusher with powers.

The game can be played in simple or experienced rules (which is great for the kids). Here we played the simple rules and Jack and I later played the more complex version.

In the simple version, you choose a bug that all have different starting pieces and then by pushing the pieces onto the board in a “STRAIGHT LINE” (which can be quite difficult to prevent accidental cheating with little ones) and trying to knock the other player’s bugs off.

In the harder version you don’t start with your special pieces and instead have special moves that can be used by paying with pieces or fulfilling certain game conditions.

There are a few issues, however. While the wooden bits are awesome the cardboard could be slightly more durable. The game recommends you glue the base together and store it made up but it’s a challenge to get everything back in the box. A rare time I would have preferred a slightly bigger game box.

There is also the possibility you reach a kind of stalemate where you just push each other back and forth but this can normally be mitigated as the adult in the room by playing aggressive.

The game is loads of fun and the boys love it to bits. It can currently be bought off the company’s website (unless you live in the USA/Canada where it’s out of stock).