Girl Genius: The Works

Get ready for a dose of mad science and wild inventions in Girl Genius: The Works! Inspired by the acclaimed comic, this card game puts you in the shoes of a brilliant (or not-so-brilliant) scientist trying to prove your worth. Forget complex and time-consuming games; here, the fun is quick and straightforward, perfect for playing with the family (with that caveat about some bolder illustrations, of course!).

The setup is simple: an improvised board with 12 face-down cards and each player holding a hand of five cards. On each turn, you flip a card and have the chance to rotate another one already on the table. If the colored symbols on the card edges align after rotation, it's time to 'pop' the card! This means following its instructions – which can be great or terrible – and, if all goes well, adding it to your score pile. The cards in your hand are used to replace the ones you 'popped'. The game ends when someone reaches 100 points or collects a specific combination of cards. Unlike many Cheapass Games titles, this one boasts a polished production, with laminated, full-color cards with rounded corners, ready to withstand many sessions of pure genius (or madness!). It's a game that requires a bit of attention to card translations, but the experience is rewarding due to its originality and agile gameplay.