- That Old Wallpaper
- Designer: AEG
- Players: 2-5
- Playtime: 30 minutes
- Ages: 10+
That Old Wallpaper is a quick and engaging game where players compete to piece together patterns of vintage wallpaper. With simple rules and a mix of strategy and luck, it offers a delightful experience that scales well from 2 to 5 players. The game centers around secretly selecting cards to claim wallpaper tiles and match designs for points.
Setup
Each player starts with:
- A deck of numbered cards (1-10) in their color
- A matching player token
- Five cards drawn to form their starting hand
The wallpaper cards are shuffled and placed into columns—one per player—while the gold “Hazy Memory” cards are set aside. For the 2-player variant, a third player, “Grandma,” is added to keep things competitive.
Gameplay
Each round, players choose a card from their hand to secretly play. Higher-numbered cards allow players to claim wallpaper tiles from one end of the row, while lower-numbered cards claim from the other. The challenge lies in not knowing what your opponent will choose, making each round a game of bluffing and risk management.
Once cards are revealed, they’re arranged from highest to lowest, and players claim wallpaper cards from the corresponding columns. Ties are settled by player tokens, with the losing player receiving a “Hazy Memory” card to play later. As the game progresses, players collect and attempt to match wallpaper designs to create patterns for points.
Objective
The aim is to collect and match wallpaper tiles of different designs and colors (blue, red, yellow, and green) to score the most points. Special symbols on some cards provide bonus points, and gold pattern cards offer flexibility, making them particularly valuable.
Final Thoughts
That Old Wallpaper strikes a great balance between strategy and random chance. Players can carefully plan their card selections, but the uncertainty of what tiles will appear each round keeps things lively. The game offers satisfying decisions without being overly complicated, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions.
The 2-player variant is solid, and the game scales well up to 5 players, ensuring replayability. With its lightweight mechanics and charming design, it’s a fun choice for game nights, local breweries, or a quick match between friends. That Old Wallpaper is sure to become a favorite at the table!
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