Playing board games on family game nights is lots of fun. The only problem we have is generally what game to play. Cheatwell Games have some great offerings (Family Quiz Night is excellent), and we love the party game, Top It – a fast-thinking family party game that is literally STACKS OF FUN!
Top It is a fast family tabletop party game where stacking cones to top other answers is key. Suitable for 2-6 players or teams, aged 10+ with a playing time of around 30-45 minutes. A game where you score points by naming things with certain letters, topping other answers and stacking cones to beat your fellow players, as fast as you can.
The objective of the game is to be the first player to score 50+ points by placing your cones on the letter discs or, better still, on top of other players cones on the letter discs to steal all the points. It you give an answer to a question another player can TOP IT and potentially steal the points. A fun and fast family game.
In the box:
- 76 Top It Topic Cards
- 60 Top It Cones (6 different colours)
- 18 Letter Discs
- 60 Second Sand Timer
- Scoring Pad
- Pencil
- Rules
Game setup is nice and easy. Each player is given 10 coloured cones (with each player having a different colour). There are 60 cones in the box so up to six people / teams can play. Write the name of each player or team on the provided score pad at the top of the column that matches the colour of their playing cones. Randomly select 9 letter discs and place them in a 3×3 grid on the table in reach of everybody (you can use either side, red or blue). Give the topic cards a good shuffle and place them on the table so that all players can reach them. Set up complete, it is now time to play for some question answering, cone stacking fun.
Playing Top It is simple. The 9 circular cards on the table in a 3×3 grid pattern is the game board; each disc has a different letter on it. One player picks up a topic card and reads it out aloud so that all the other players can hear (topics could be fruits and vegetables, Disney characters, towns and cities in the UK, things with handles etc.). The 60 seconds timer is then flipped over and ALL PLAYERS (no turn taking is required) need to start naming things that match the topic card but can only begin with the letters on the 9 letter discs. For example, if the question was to name towns and cities in the UK, you would look at the letter discs and must use those letters for the names – if there was an M disc you could say Manchester. If something is named correctly and matches one of the letters on the letter discs, then that player places one of their cones on that disc (duplicate answers aren’t accepted). There is no point grinning yet as at this point you haven’t scored any points. If you said Manchester and placed your cone on the letter M, if another player then says Milton Keynes or Macclesfield (or any other town or city beginning with the letter M), they can place their cone on top of yours, toping it and stacking them up, and then they are in pole position to win the points unless you or another player then said Maidstone and placed their cone on top of the others. When the timer expires, points are added up. Letter discs with a single cone on them are worth 1 point and players with a cone on that disc get 1 point, if you have letter discs where the cones have been stacked up, only the player whose cone is at the top of the stack gets the points – if 5 cones are stacked the player at the top of the stack gets 5 points. Players can also receive 5 bonus points if they get 3 of their coloured cones in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) making it a game of strategy as well getting correct answers (getting three singles in a row could be worth more than a single stack of cones). All points scored must be noted on the scoring pad. Turn over the letter discs and continue with the next round (swapping the discs out every two rounds). Play continues until a player reaches 50+ points and is the winner.
Overall, if you are looking for a fast and fun family game that is a bit different then Top It is it. It is very easy to set up, the rules are simple to understand, and it is very easy to play. Whilst the questions may be simple, it is surprising how many brains seem to be erased of all knowledge and you can’t think of ANYTHING that begins with one of the nine letter options available.
I think that Top It is an excellent family-friendly game and one that a group of adults will love just as much. The added dimension of being able to play strategically, by adding in elements of Tic Tac Toe as well – looking to get 3 in a row or timing your answer just right to top another player’s cone. You must be watchful of the timer as you could find yourself losing out.
The questions are wide and varied and will suit all age groups. You would be surprised how many things can, or can’t, be named in 60 seconds. 60 seconds is a lot longer than you think, especially when your mind goes blank, and you can’t even name something in your kitchen beginning with the letter T (whilst staring into the cup of tea in your hand or looking at the toaster).
A quality fun game that is just perfect for family game nights. Top It is a game that allows your competitive streak loose.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £30
For more information, visit cheatwell.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
