ALLPLAY - Switchbacks Board Game for Adults and Families - Tile-Laying - Small Box - Filler Game with Fangs - 1 Minute to Teach Travel Game - 2 to 4 Players - 15 Minute Play Time

Fun, portable tile laying game. Nice production quality.

I love tile-laying games, and also have a need for lighter, fast-moving games for my table. We like to play something light but fun and thoughtful before getting to our main game for the night, and we are all fans of tile-layers, so Switchbacks seemed like it would fill that void nicely.And it did!Super easy to learn, even for board game novices.You are trying to place trails and hikers, so that you have hikers on finished trails. It's that simple. Very limited set of moves you can do, but your choices are meaningful. And it plays FAST. You'll race through games in as little as 15-20 minutes.Some are saying there aren't enough meeples for four players, but that's not accurate. You just have limited choices as far as the colors you can play. Two-player games must use red and blue. Three players add green, and four players add yellow. Since your needed meeple count goes down as player count goes up, they only included enough green and yellow for three- and four-player games, respectively. Odd choice, but not a big deal.Good, light head-to-head game. (I'd have liked a simple, score-based solo mode, too, but that's no knock.)Overall a wonderful small format game. I could stand for it to come in at a slightly lower pricepoint, but it fills a niche at my table, so I'm happy to have it.

Wow! I was totally blown away by this tiny little game. It was so much fun in just a few minutes. The concept is very simple and quick to understand the play is quick and the set up is even quicker. Without exaggeration it only took several moments to read the instructions learn and understand the gameplay. I would estimate that it takes just as long to read the rules as it does to set the game up. I was only able to play these two players as that’s how many people we typically play games, i’m not sure I would play for people with this anyway, with that said two player game was excellent. This is the same game that was recently in a Kickstarter campaign there is no difference what comes in the box from Kickstarter or what came in this box, both are the same. The colors on each little tile are bright and vibrant, the small micro sized meeple hikers are adorable and the box is small, sizing in at 4.5”x4.5”x2”. I’ve played a few different games from allplay over the years and have enjoyed their catalogue and this one is no exception. The game play is simple, lay down tiles in an attempt to get four consecutive numbers i.e. 4-5-6-7 and put hikers on those tiles to score points. I’d recommend that if you missed out on their recent crowdfunding campaign that this is an affordable and great purchase. It’s highly portable and highly replay-able and great fun, and a bonus, I do think young board gamers can grasp and understand this quickly.

Switchbacks is a beautifully produced tile-laying game with creative mechanics but suffers from polarizing gameplay. While the game is visually appealing and well-made, its reliance on cutthroat strategies may alienate casual or cooperative gamers.Pros:- Stunning artwork and gradient-based tile design.- High-quality cardboard tiles and attractive hiker meeples.- Compact and travel-friendly packaging.Cons:- Gameplay often feels binary, either overly cutthroat or uncompetitive.- Lacks tie-breaking rules, leading to frustrating stalemates.- Limited player color selection for two- and three-player games.- Strategy heavily depends on sabotaging opponents, which may not appeal to everyone.Switchbacks presents itself as an easy-to-learn tile-laying game with a travel-friendly design and beautiful components. From the vibrant tiles with a seamless color gradient to the small but well-made hiker meeples, the production quality is top-notch. However, the gameplay may leave players divided.The game’s mechanics reward sabotage and disruption over independent strategy. To differentiate scores, players must actively undermine each other's moves, leading to a highly competitive and often mean-spirited experience, particularly in two-player games. However, if all players take a cooperative or "nice" approach, scores often end in ties, as optimal tile placement tends to benefit everyone equally. Unfortunately, there are no tie-breaking rules, which can make some games feel unresolved.Additionally, while the game accommodates 2 to 4 players, only two colors of hikers are available in a two-player game, which might disappoint players who want to use their preferred color.Ultimately, while Switchbacks is well-designed and executes its mechanics as intended, the cutthroat nature of the gameplay may not suit casual gamers or those looking for lighthearted fun. For a more relaxed and universally enjoyable experience, ALLPLAY’s Mountain Goats might be a better alternative.