Two is always better than one, and in the case of Tapple 10, 10 is better than one.
Tapple 10, from USAopoly, is a word game that comes in a compact travel case. Consider it like a sequel to the original Tapple, but designed with a bunch of more games and perfect for travel.
If you’re not familiar with Tapple, it’s a game where players must pick a category and come up with words beginning with a certain letter that fit in that category. Players go around in a circle and have 10 seconds to answer, and are out for the round if the timer runs out or an incorrect word is yelled out. Tapple 10 brings the same fast-paced, quick-witted gameplay over 10 different games.
Tapple 10 comes with 80 circular cards and a sand timer. One side of the card features a letter, and the other side displays four categories, each in a different color. To play the original Tapple 10 Alpha, players must stack the cards category side up. Flip the first card over to see what letter you’ll be playing with, and the color of the letter determines which of the four categories on the top card of the stack to use. The first person to shout out the correct answer wins, takes the card, and the first player to get 10 cards wins. There are more than 160 categories in total on all of the cards, and all of the possible combinations really do seem endless.
As simple as it sounds, the game really challenge players to dig deep into their noggins, while at the same time trying to come up with a correct answer. It’s all fun and games until you have to try to come up with all of the items beginning with the letter “L” that you can find in a grocery store. (For the record, I was really good at this one. Lettuce. Lima beans. Lemons. Boom.)
The other nine games are just as fun, and I also really appreciate how thoughtfully the games were designed. Each game is explained thoroughly in the instructions. Although you would think they’re all pretty similar, each is unique and brings its own flair when you’re actually playing it. Also, each game card has icons on the top, which gives players information such as how long the game usually lasts, the amount of players, difficulty level, and more.
My favorite game is Last Man Standing, which is similar to Alpha, but players have to keep going with that category until someone can’t answer anymore. This one turns into a one-on-one battle! Other games include Under Pressure, where players have to use one letter and shout out the correct letter to all four categories in the next card, and Alpha Build, where players place all of the cards letter face up on the table and try to spell three- to five-letter words.
I can guarantee you that each game played will bring out the inner child in all of us, and when I played this game with a bunch of my coworkers, we hardly sat down in our seats the whole time (and those who were sitting would repeatedly jump up and down from their seats), and we were basically shouting each answer the whole time. Tapple 10 is more fun with more people, and the nature of the game allows players to make teams, which makes it even more fun.
Tapple 10 also brings out laugh out loud fun, especially when the wrong answer is shouted out. For example, when I had the letter “A” and had to name a comedy, but instead named A Walk to Remember, we all had to pause and take a moment at how ridiculous that sounds. Sometimes you really just shout out the first thing you think of, but I’d like to refer you to the “L” example above to prove that I am a worthy competitor.
Tapple 10 is perfect for any word enthusiasts, people who like fast-paced games, and will be one of my go-to games during family game night.
