Fast Flip

I recently received a quick game from Blue Orange Games called Fast Flip!.  Let me tell you more about this game.

What the game is all about.

Get ready to scramble for the match in this crazy fruit salad! Match your fruits to a number, or numbers to a fruit; you don’t know what match you’ll have to find next! Whether you play with the tokens or with the cards alone, all players of any age will be fast flipping for this brain teasing match up. The game comes complete in a tin for your cards and tokens, making it an easy travel item. The magic distribution of fruits on the cards guaranties that there is always one correct answer. You just need to be the fastest to find it!

My Thoughts

My first impression of Fast Flip! was that it seemed easy to play and quick to learn.  I was right – this is really an easy game that anyone could enjoy if you like games that are somewhat rapid to play.  The cards are double-sided – on one side you will see either a number or a fruit while on the other side you will see a bunch of fruits printed on them.   Before playing, shuffle the cards together and place them facedown in a pile (i.e. you won’t be able to see the side with all the  different fruits printed on it.).

The container contains 54 cards, 10 tokens and the rules.  The token are made of sturdy cardboard that will be easy to grasp for everyone.  The cards are triangular and quite large which makes it a bit awkward to shuffle I find.   If me an adult find it difficult to shuffle them you can imagine how little hands can have trouble as well.  However, I love the original shape of the cards which makes it an out-of-the-ordinary game.  There are three games in this little box which is very interesting because each game are unique and different at the same time.  

The first game is called Flip It!  In this particular game all players play simultaneously, racing to find a match.   This is played over a series of rounds.   At each round, when everyone is ready one person will flip the top card of the pile and place it face up next to the pile so that all can see the different fruits printed on it.  As fast as you can you need to look at the new faceup card and compare it with the card on top of the facedown pile.  If the facedown card shows a fruit, then you have to race to determine how many times that fruit is printed on the faceup card.   If the facedown card shows a number, then you will race to find which fruit is printed that many times on the faceup card.  The first player to call out the correct answer scores the faceup card as one point.  The game is over when there is only one card left in the deck. 

Can you sense the competition building while playing this game?   Personally I hate the stress of it but I can see how it can be interesting for competitive kids and/or adults.

Game number two is called Token Grab.  The box also contains tokens – either fruits of numbers.  You will have five of each – so for the numbers it will be 1,2,3,4,5 and the fruits will have strawberry, raspberry, orange, banana, and pineapple.   The fruits are adorable I find with little faces smiling at you.   While setting up for this particular game, you will have to arrange the ten tokens face up in reach of all players.   This time around, when you find the correct match, you will have to grab the correct token instead of calling out the answer.   This is perfect for a quieter game I find.   When you claim the token, you keep it faceup in front of you within reach of all players.    Scored tokens can be scored by other players on future rounds.  When one player has four tokens in front of him/her, then the game ends immediately and that player is the winner.   You can also play a shorter version of the game where you can decide that the winning player is the one with two or three tokens in front of him/her.

Game three is titled Token Live.  For this particular game, you will have to arrange the tokens in a row.   The order is not important so do whatever you feel like it at that moment.   The tokens will determine which match you are looking for each turn.  When a new card is flipped faceup, players will treat the left-most token as though it were on the back of the card.  Whoever first calls out the correctly matching symbol or number scores the token as 1 point.   The player with the most tokens after all 10 tokens have been played wins.

The skills your kids will develop while playing Fast Flip will be visual perception, processing speed as well as focus and attention.  All these can help your kids to become more observant and quick to respond.

As much as I would like to recommend this game for bringing with you at an appointment, I hesitate to do so simply because I know how kids can get excited about this kind of game and might start yelling when calling a fruit or quantity.    However, if your kids can control themselves and respect the quietness of a waiting room, this game a great to keep them occupied for a little while.  On the other hand, this game is perfect for a quick family fun time (plays in about 15 minutes) or for down time at camp or a retreat.     It could also be perfect to keep the kids busy while camping during a rainy period of time.   The game is perfect for ages 7 and up and can be played for two to eight players.  The box is easy to carry around in your purse or a bag.

I think this game has interesting twist but like I said I would be careful in which environment I would play it as some places prefer quietness over excitement.   I can see how this game would allow the children (and the adults as well) to stay sharp in their observation and quick in their reaction.   Just because I dislike the stress of being the first to call a fruit based on the card/token doesn’t make this game not fun to play.  It is just my personality who do not enjoy that kind of competitiveness.   However, I know that other people would enjoy it.  It can make a great game for kids or adults.   Can you picture adults playing this game at a party?  I sure can… and I also can see them laughing and having a good time.   So whether you consider this game for a child, a young adult in college or university or an adult, I think it will bring joy, competition and good memories to whoever receive it.

Fast Flip! is available at our favorite game store – even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Blue Orange Games for sending me the game. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.