Aside from chess, I am terrible at all board games. So much so that I would probably lose to a primary school kid. To not let my ego get hurt, I prefer to call these games mere time-pass activities and often compare them to the silly games kids play. But despite this, I do secretly want to play them. And when I see something like FunPop, the child in me can’t resist wanting to jump in and give it a go.
For those who don’t know, FunPop is a tabletop pinball game that can be played between 1-4 players. Build to test your aim and reflexes, the game combines skill and strategy and turns your fun into an endless source of entertainment for others. The set includes the FunPop table, controllers, and a few marble-sized balls.
Starting FunPop is a breeze. Power on the console, grab the controller, and press the button to join. Once the game begins, barriers drop, and four cannons fire marbles in random directions. Players move their characters using the controller. The goal is to hit the marbles and prevent them from landing on your side, or even send them to other players to make them lose points. If a marble falls, it automatically returns to the shooter and is fired again. The game continues until one player’s score hits zero, at which point their barrier rises, and the remaining players keep going until one winner emerges.
Now that we are pretty clear about the rules, let’s talk about the design of the game. FunPop uses marbles with a diameter of 0.63 inches in any color. These marbles not only add a visual appeal to the gameplay but also ensure that every session feels fresh and unique. Even if you’re playing solo, the variety of marbles and engaging mechanics make for an enjoyable experience.
FunPop offers three distinct game modes, each carefully crafted to provide a different gaming experience. In these various modes, the number of marbles fired by the cannons, as well as their speed can vary significantly. This variance in the game modes keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, ensuring that players never get bored and always have something new to look forward to.
Another intriguing point that sets FunPop apart from other board games is the customization element. Players can customize the game’s appearance, personalize characters, or even create new accessories, making the possibilities for customization endless.
Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the game is set to retail at $629. However, early backers can grab one for $369, and shipping costs range from $55 to $80 depending on your location. The engineers behind FunPop plan to open-source the project, so passionate players can code new game modes.
