REVIEW: Beasts of Balance
I initially ran across this game at Pax East. Lines were long and the folks trying out the game seemed to be having a good time. I was lucky enough to get the chance to play with my own game at home thanks to If there is a growing trend in board games that I absolutely love, its app integration. While some have been skeptical at first, I“ve yet to see a game that sucks because of app integration, in fact, most of the time, the game is way better than it could ever have been and this particular game takes great advantage of the technology! Beasts of Balance is a stacking game for 1-5 players that takes about 15 minutes to play.
In Beasts of Balance, players are trying to earn the most points by stacking creatures and other shapes onto a digitally connected platform (called a plinth in the game). As players stack items onto the plinth, the integrated app will reveal how the new shape interacts with the digital world. The goal of the game is to earn the most points, which is done by creating and taking care of the animals you place.
Beasts of Balance is not a low cost game, however I can attest that it“s extremely well made and hella fun! The shapes come in a variety sizes and colors, all of which feel very durable. There are a total of 6 different animals (2 air, 2 land, and 2 water), and I could easily see kids playing with these outside of the game.
The app itself is very well designed (free to download) and includes plenty of exciting visuals and sounds to help immerse the players into the game. Finally, I should point out that there is no rulebook for the game as the app offers a guided tutorial that will get you through the basics of the game.
To play Beasts of Balance, you“ll first need to connect the plinth to your tablet or phone (it connects automatically via Bluetooth). After that, you begin by choosing one of the six animals to place on the plinth. You first touch the glyph on the animal to the same area on the base of the plinth; this activates the animal in the app. Once activated, simply stack the animal on the platform and it will automatically appear in the digital world.
After that, the world is yours. New animals can be added in the same way. Animals will also lose energy each round and stacking elemental shapes of the appropriate color can help “feed”“ them and keep them alive (I killed quite a few species accidentally). There are also a few special tiles to stack, such as migrations, crossbreeding, haste, and distraction. These all do different things and you can experiment with them throughout the game. If playing with multiple players, you“ll simply take turns stacking items.
As you stack more and more on the plinth, your score will increase. The goal is just to earn the most points possible. If something falls off, you have a limited window to re-stack it before the game and your digital world ends and good luck, the nerves may kick in as you try to save your world!
If this was just a stand-alone stacking game, it would probably fail to even be a blip on the radar. But the inclusion of the digital app really does add something special to the game. As you place things on the plinth, it“s really interesting to watch what happens in the world. This is especially true when you have a crossbreed or migration and a new creature appears. The app even keeps a bestiary where you can check what you“ve made in the past.
This is game you are going to want to buy if you have young ones at home to entertain. While adults can definitely enjoy it, I think in a family atmosphere with kids, makes it a much better game! Speaking of children, Beasts of Balance seems takes a page out of the Skylanders book and I can easily see kids playing with the animal and shapes outside of the app.
The player count for Beasts of Balance says 1-5. Games are quick and engaging and best of all cooperative. One of the great things about this stacking game though is that the app actually gives you goals. In most stacking games, you are just trying to get everything on the platform. But in Beasts of Balance, the order matters. If your Shark is about to become extinct, then you better grab a water element to help keep him alive and earning you points. Once you get past the first creature, every item should be chosen for a reason. Order DOES matter here.
Finally, the distraction piece is one of the most fun pieces in the game. It gives you extra challenges to do during the game to earn additional points such as you might have to hold the sun on the screen while you stack or you might have to tap moons while you are choosing your next piece. TOTALLY FUN!
Beasts of Balance is definitely an different type of game. Of course, there is the end goal of trying to get a high score, but that almost feels secondary towards the sense of discovery you get from seeing how what you stack integrates with the digital world.
Beasts of Balance is an incredibly well made game that you could have safely ignored had it not been for the digital app. But it does have the app, and I think anyone with children at home should have this one on their radar. Beasts of Balance is sure to keep them entertained and I bet you“ll be popping in for a play as well. My rating is 4 Stars! My niece and nephew say different, Yamil 5/5, Lenyse 1000/5! That goes to prove that this IS a FUN FAMILY game!
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If you“d like to pick up a copy of Beasts of Balance, you can get it for about $99.
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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