Cover Up board game
by The Beast
(Boardgame Beast HQ)
Game:
Cover Up
Board game manufacturer:
Out of the Box games
Number of players:
2
Ages:
8+
Quick verdict
Cover Up is a fun twist on the Connect Four or Tic Tac Toe game family. The extra dimension makes it much more complex and challenging. Each game takes 10 mins or less to complete.
The game and gameplay
Cover Up is played on a 5×5 plastic grid of three-level wells. Each player has three different-sized discs; three large, four medium and five small.
The object of the game is, Connect Four style, to get any four of your coloured discs in a row, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
Play begins by dropping any disc into any well except the center one. The second player then may freely choose where to place their disc.
Small discs may be covered by medium or large discs; medium discs can only be covered by large discs. Neither small nor medium discs can be moved during the game.Large discs are the key to winning the game. Only the player who ‘owns’ a large disc may move it. Once picked up from a well, the player MUST move it to a different well; so you need a good memory for what you’ve covered up.
It’s possible to uncover your opponent’s colour and create a row of four, losing you the game, when you pick up a large disc.
The strategy lies in trying to force your opponent to waste their large discs blocking your moves, while maneouvering your own large discs into a winning position.
Unlike Tic Tac Toe, there seems little advantage in going first. Cover Up board game’s rule of not allowing the first player to take the center position levels the playing field significantly.
Pros and cons
Cover Up is a nicely made game, with solid plastic pieces suitable for travel use; there is a handy tray that slides out from underneath to store the pieces in. Rules are straightforward and easy to understand, while the learning curve is shallow.
The added dimension of three levels and the ability to move the large discs is an original but simple concept which adds a lot to the strategy of the game.
Because the power of the large discs is formidable, though, it can become a race to dominate the center of the board with your large discs. The smaller discs can become almost an irrelevance when two skilled players compete.
The verdict
Cover Up is a board game playable by virtually any member of the family. Its rugged construction makes it suitable for school use. A solid two-player game that is a longer-lasting challenge than Connect Four.