Länder Toppen!
Designer: Matthias Jünemann
Publisher: Drei Hasen in der Abendsonne
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8+
Time: 30-45 minutes
Times Played: 8 times with purchased copy

Top Trumps began in 1968 and originated from a game known as “Quartet” or “Kwartet”. (Pal, never thought you’d be reading the history of Top Trumps today, did you?) The present rule set is essentially War (yes, that old chestnut), but with cards that have different possible values depending upon what category is chosen.  A category is chosen, values from the top card are read, and the winner takes the spoils, places them on the bottom of their deck, and picks a new category. There was also “Ace Trumps”, that basically added cards that had a trump suit and a super trump. There was also a tournament in 1976 where you could win a flight on the Concorde.  Oooooh.

I came to want to play Länder Toppen! because of its nature as a trick taking game (of sorts).  I’m open to a broad interpretation of the genre, and have a soft spot for another exclamatory trick taking game, Romans Go Home!  I didn’t think Romans! was a trick taking game at first, but when I viewed it as a programming trick taking game where you’re simply planning which cards will go to which trick at the start of the hand, the game really appealed to me.  

Länder Toppen! sort of melds the two.  

We haven’t reviewed some of my favorite games from the last few years, so I am occasionally taking a step back to share some thoughts on one of those games; that’s what this is.

Länder Toppen! is a take on the “let’s compare statistics in a specific category” genre of cards games.  Here, unlike Top Trumps, you have a hand and you’ll be planning which card to use in which category (rather than the next card in a deck); play lasts a certain number of rounds; and, well, there’s a scoring system other than “who has all of the cards”.  Continue reading →