CMON Stranger Things Upside Down Board Game - Cooperative Play with Detailed Miniatures, Two Seasons of Gameplay, Strategy Game for Kids & Adults,

The Stranger Things Upside Down Board Game offers an exciting concept and enjoyable gameplay for both kids and adults. The game mechanics work well overall, but there is a noticeable issue with the scene cards. These cards present a game balance problem as they are too brutal, making it difficult for players to win the game. This reviewer mentions playing the game five times without a single victory. The solution proposed by the reviewer is to tweak the game rules, particularly by allowing a way to remove or mitigate the impact of the "papa" scene card, which is described as a total disaster if encountered early in the game. The suggestion is to modify the Eleven power, which currently allows players to remove a scene card from the discard pile, to instead allow players to look through the scene deck, remove a card, and then shuffle the deck. This would enable players to potentially remove the "papa" card early on, preventing it from negatively affecting the game. While the game is praised for its concept and artwork, there are a few criticisms regarding the instructions. One reviewer mentions that the instructions were not thorough, while another found the manual to be somewhat disorganized and lacking an index. However, the gameplay itself is described as easy to understand in all aspects. Another reviewer expresses enthusiasm for the game, stating that they love it and have been playing it Consistently since purchasing it. On the other hand, there are a couple of negatives raised about the game. One reviewer mentions that the plastic characters feel cheap, but the rest of the game pieces are satisfactory. Additionally, the initial setup and game mechanics are described as problematic. The reviewer found the rulebook to be confusing and gave up after spending three nights trying to understand it. They suggest that the game may be more suitable for players with the patience and plenty of free time, specifically mentioning fans of Dungeons & Dragons (DND) and Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Overall, the Stranger Things Upside Down Board Game has received mixed reviews. While some customers enjoy the concept, artwork, and gameplay, others point out issues with the game balance, instructions, and complexity.