Two Rex Plays #23 - CuBirds
In this edition of Two Rex Plays we’re discussing CuBirds, a set collection card game designed by Stefan Alexander and with artwork by Kristiaan der Nederlanden. Players select cards from their hand to add to a shared 3x4 grid which sits in the centre of the table. If you surround cards with the same type of bird, you capture these and add them to your hand. Build up enough of one species of bird and you have a ‘flock’ which enables you to permanently set aside cards and work toward the end game condition.
Here are the design features we enjoyed:
Flock mechanic – On the top right corner of each card are the number of birds you’ll need to reach the flock condition. There are actually two numbers, representing a small flock (allowing you to set aside one of the birds) and a large flock (allowing you to keep two). That creates a type of ‘push your luck’ tension as to which of the flock sizes you’ll pursue, bearing in mind how quickly your opponents are working towards their goals.
Low-polygon art style – Each card has a fantastic low-polygon interpretation of one of the bird types in the game. We’re learning the 3D modelling software Blender and most beginner courses start off with low polygon modelling techniques, so we were particularly interested to see how a more talented artist approached this art style. Check out our interpretation of the duck in the attached image!
End game condition – You win by collecting either two different species of bird (with at least 3 birds in each species) or by collecting at least one of seven different species. You’ll need to commit relatively early on, and because your collection is public your opponents can see the path you’ve taken which layers on an additional strategic element.
Complexity and play time – CuBirds is quick to learn and quick to play. For us, this is a perfect combination when you’re looking for a new experience to play as part of an evening, or to play with younger members of the family. The lightweight rule set and decision space perfectly match the experience.
CuBirds is a great transition game for younger players who have experience with more traditional, mainstream games and is curious to try out something a bit different and more strategic. The decision space is perfect, offering enough options to allow for meaningful choices without unduly benefitting older players who may be more used to this style of game.
Interested in CuBirds? It’s currently free to play on Tabletopia & we recommend that you check it out, and you can find out more here:
Board Game Geek Page
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/245476/cubirds
Publisher Catch Up Games