Flicking

1876 · 2-4 Players · ~30 min · Competitive

Crokinole is the rare game that's been around for nearly 150 years because nothing has improved on the formula. Flicking wooden discs into a shallow dish while trying to knock your opponent's pieces off the board is immediately understandable and endlessly replayable. The skill ceiling is remarkably high for something so simple, and the moment-to-moment tension of each flick creates excitement that complex strategy games often can't match. The board itself is the only real barrier to entry, since quality matters and quality costs money, but if you can get one, Crokinole earns its place as one of the finest two-player competitive experiences ever designed.

2016 · 2-4 Players · ~20-30 min · Competitive

Ice Cool is a uniquely fun flicking game that turns penguin-shaped wobble pieces into instruments of genuine skill. The curved and jumping shots enabled by the asymmetric penguin design create a skill ceiling that most dexterity games never approach, and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between runners and the catcher keeps every round unpredictable. The scoring system introduces too much randomness for a game that rewards precision, and the novelty can fade after many sessions, but for families and groups looking for something physical, playful, and unlike anything else on their shelf, Ice Cool delivers.

2015 · 2-10 Players · ~30-45 min · Team-Based

Flick 'em Up turns a Wild West shootout into a tabletop dexterity showdown that generates some of the loudest, funniest moments you'll find in board gaming. The setup time and fiddly scenery drag the experience down between the high points. Groups who love standing around a table, lining up shots, and cheering dramatic flicks will find a game worth the effort. Everyone else will wish the packaging around the fun was a little cleaner.