This review of Otter was originally published at PnPTime.com by Tasliman, so if you like what you see, please head over there for more. Reposted with permission.
As much as you love games, otters love to be with their friends- clams, fish, sea stars, and more. So, why not make a deal? Help them gather their buddies, and they’ll help you win!
It was in February when I first got to see the BackerKit campaign preview of Otter- a game created by Dylan Coyle, and published by Charming Games Collective. And it immediately caught my attention. Why? The visuals! The artwork is stunning, and it prompted me to reach out to Dylan to see if my team and I could play it while the campaign just started. And I was delighted to get a positive response!
Otter is a climbing/shedding card game for 1-4 players where you win by playing all the cards from your hands. The game involves a deck of cards with 5 suits and, you can already guess, Otters! On your turn, choose one of the three otters to play your cards on. There are rules about numbers and suits when it comes to shedding cards to the otters’ tummies, and opportunities to flip and swap the heads and tails of the otters- where the strategy of the game comes into play.
It took the PNP community by storm on the very first day of its campaign as it got fully backed on its opening hours. So after getting plenty of hints as to the caliber of the game, my team and I regrouped to engage ourselves in the world of Otter.
Questions that dwindled in my mind before playing the game: + It’s described to be similar to the concept of UNO. But how does Otter set itself apart in terms of gameplay experience? + How much impact will players have on each other during the game? + Where does Otter stand when it comes to repeatability?
Time to build Otter!
After getting the PNP files from Dylan, we got busy building the game. The game consists of 77 both-sided cards that you can easily print and assemble in card sleeves. And being a connoisseur of taking the path less traveled by, I went on to laser print the cards, and paste them one-by-one. Took a lot of time, but I had fun!
Backing the game on BackerKit gives you plenty of choices. You can grab just the PNP files, go all out with the deluxe boxed version, or even snag an adorable Otter plushie to go along with your game!
With 77 cards and a very handy manual at our disposal, we dove headfirst into the world of Otter, playing 7 exciting sessions in a week. And here are the findings on the game, brought to you by my team of 12 game enthusiasts, and yours truly!
For context, we primarily focused on the 3 and 4-player modes.
Findings from playing Otter
The many approaches to winning. Once the heads, tails, and tummy cards are set up, you are looking at a vast array of possibilities through which you can play all your cards.
+ You have the capability of flipping or swapping the otter heads, providing 6 different scopes of playing cards in terms of number. + You have the capability of flipping or swapping the otter tails, activating the very suit you need for your round. + The tummy cards are ever-changing, but you can play your cards wisely and tweak it to your favor.
What does all these mean? This means you have multiple paths to victory, keeping your chances wide open!
And I find that very refreshing. There’s no one path or formula to win this game. You have to be aware of the opportunities that come your way each turn you play your cards. And it won’t come in the very first time you play the game. So, take your time!
Scopes of deduction
This dawned upon us on the 3rd session of playing the game. While playing the game in 4-player mode, we started to get a wind on what our opponents were trying to hold. And that really helped! So we tried to make their life difficult by flipping/swapping the tails/heads of the otters.
This, along with the tummy cards we placed each round, certainly allowed us to impact our opponents- answering one of the questions I had in mind before playing the game!
D for depth
Speaking of the questions I had in mind, one that comes up is whether it’s similar to UNO. Other than the aspect of shedding all your cards, and the obvious involvement of a deck of cards, I found Otter much different than UNO. To be precise, Otter has more depth!
The game has three otters, each with specific rules about numbers and suits, that players can manipulate by flipping or swapping their heads and tails, creating multiple paths to victory. This requires some planning. Plus, the ever-changing tummy cards allow players to influence their opponents’ options, adding layers of strategy and player interaction, which I feel is not as prominent in UNO.
I love UNO! But if it comes to depth, I’m opting for Otter.
A for adorable!
Let’s just say that I’ve placed Otter on the same pedestal as For Northwood as the cutest PNP I’ve played to date! Be it the otters, the five friends (suits) with their pun names, or the plushie that comes with the campaign- the game is overflowing with cuteness. The artwork is also pleasing to the eye and goes hand-in-hand with the game.
A little tip!
While trying to shed cards, the best way is to hold on to many cards in one suit, but don’t be so hell-bent on one! There were times I was so busy holding cards of one particular suit, that I completely ignored the scopes that came and went. So keep a flexible mind while playing the game. Alter strategies if required. If not anything, it will confuse your opponents for sure!
Also, notice how the frog appears in the tail cards twice, instead of once like the other suits? You know what to do. wink, wink.
A request to Dylan
The game is already repeatable as is, but it would hit the next level if you could add more head cards, preferably as an expansion to the game. This will keep the game fresh for sure, and on the gaming table. Win-win!
Where to get the game from?
Otter has already been a big hit in its campaign, and after playing it with my team, I can confidently say it’s well deserved. A big thanks to Dylan for giving us the scope to try the game beforehand! This game is like no Otter!
I waited the entire article to use this pun.
Game Overview
Publisher: Charming Games Collective Designer: Dylan Coyle Artist: Lailamon Number of players: 1 to 4 Difficulty level: Easy to medium Rounds of gameplay needed to learn: 1 to 2 rounds Game duration: 30 minutes Available on: BackerKit Theme: Shedding Cards Number of pages and color: 18 pages if you are opting for PNP (color). Assembling difficulty level: Medium. Print and cut out the cards, then sleeve them! Lamination: Not recommended Additional elements required: Card sleeves Time to learn: Within 20 minutes Travel-friendly: 9.5/10 Shelving friendly: 9.5/10 Rating from PnP Time: 9/10
