Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
A great fit for those who love optimization and the Wild West theme mixed with a bit of poker luck.
Highlights
- Very fluid card mechanics
- High replayability with 14 characters
- Solo mode with varied opponents
- Fast-paced multiplayer action
Keep in mind
- Relies on printed components
- Moderate initial learning curve
Rules manual not indexed yet
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Ever felt the thrill of exploring a map and deciding which path to take? Fliptown brings that experience to the table with a clever 'flip-and-write' twist. You're on a quest to earn stars by exploring a Wild West town, but instead of rolling dice, you use a standard poker deck to drive your actions. Each turn is a puzzle of resource management: three cards are flipped, and you must assign one as your suit, one as your value, and one as your poker card.
The suit determines which of the four regions—Trail, Badlands, Mine, or Town—you activate. The value then dictates which specific site within that region you get to circle on your map. Meanwhile, the third card goes into your poker hand, which is resolved at the end of the round to determine who gets the bonus. Each site you visit offers unique rewards, such as cash, gold, or useful gear like horses and guns, allowing you to build powerful combos.
The game is incredibly flexible. For solo players, you can chase a high score or challenge one of the four 'Cowbots'—robot opponents with their own unique AI motivations. In multiplayer, players use community cards and resolve their turns simultaneously, keeping the game fast-paced and engaging. To ramp up the competition, bounty cards introduce racing goals that force players to pivot their strategies. If you're looking for more variety, there are 14 different characters available, each with unique starting resources and special abilities that change your approach to the map. It's an optimization game where every single decision counts toward becoming the most legendary figure in town.
The suit determines which of the four regions—Trail, Badlands, Mine, or Town—you activate. The value then dictates which specific site within that region you get to circle on your map. Meanwhile, the third card goes into your poker hand, which is resolved at the end of the round to determine who gets the bonus. Each site you visit offers unique rewards, such as cash, gold, or useful gear like horses and guns, allowing you to build powerful combos.
The game is incredibly flexible. For solo players, you can chase a high score or challenge one of the four 'Cowbots'—robot opponents with their own unique AI motivations. In multiplayer, players use community cards and resolve their turns simultaneously, keeping the game fast-paced and engaging. To ramp up the competition, bounty cards introduce racing goals that force players to pivot their strategies. If you're looking for more variety, there are 14 different characters available, each with unique starting resources and special abilities that change your approach to the map. It's an optimization game where every single decision counts toward becoming the most legendary figure in town.
Expansions
Published additional content
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
BEST
2
REC
3
REC
4
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Write Stuff Games, Bad Boom Games, Gameland 游戏大陆, HIT Games, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, MeepleMood, Mosaico Jogos, Old Dawg, Strohmann Games
Designer
Steven Aramini
Artist
Naomi Ferrall
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
7,485owners
2,201wishlist
310want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Do I need my own deck of cards?
Yes, the game uses a standard 52-card poker deck to drive the gameplay.
Can I play it solo?
Absolutely! You can go for a high score or challenge the 'Cowbots', which act as AI opponents.
Is the game complex?
It has a moderate weight (2.4). The rules are straightforward, but the map optimization requires some strategic thinking.
How long does a game take?
Usually between 30 to 45 minutes, remaining quite snappy even with more players.
What is the 'flip-and-write' system?
It's similar to a 'roll-and-write', but instead of rolling dice, you flip cards to determine what to mark on your sheet.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, though players who enjoy optimization and 'fill-in-the-blank' games will find it especially intuitive.
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