Quirky Circuits by Plaid Hat Games
Price: ~$50.00
Players: 2 to 4
Playtime: 15 to 30 minutes
Perfect for: Players who enjoy cooperative programming games with an emphasis on non-verbal teamwork.
Quirky Circuits is a game of robot manipulation and optimization! There are chores to be done, and why leave those tasks to unreliable humans when the machines can clean and organize on their behalf! But getting the job done effectively and efficiently is no easy feat as players must work as a team assigning multiple commands without actually speaking to one another about what inputs they’ve sent to the robot.
To begin Quirky Circuits, two to four players set up the collaborative game board—a book with each page representing a playable map. A robot, obstacles, and objective tokens are placed on the map depending on the mission/scenario being played. Each person is then dealt a certain number of action cards (hand size is dependent on number of players). These cards represent singular movements, or actions for complex scenarios, that the robot can perform. Example cards include moving forward one space, making a right turn, rotating 180 degrees, etc. During a turn, everyone selects and plays at least one card facedown up to a collective total of five. The playing order matters as once all cards are down, they are revealed one at a time and the robot on the map completes the assigned actions.
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The obvious challenge in Quirky Circuits is that players may not speak to one another about cards they’ve played, or even overall strategy. Instead, individuals must intuit what others might be thinking and estimate what moves would be the most logical or expected actions. And of course, robots can’t operate indefinitely—players must complete the required task for the chosen scenario in a certain number of rounds or else the battery is depleted, and the team collectively loses. Conversely, if the players can accomplish the objective in a timely manner, they are victorious.
What works in Quirky Circuits is the basic concept that scales incredibly well to accommodate the desired level of complexity and challenge. The map book comes chock full of missions (21 total) with varying degrees of difficulty, so teams that find they work well together can rest assured there will be plenty of new elements to progressively test their mastery. That said, younger players will also likely find something to enjoy in Quirky Circuits given the cute theme (the novice levels feature a robot kitty picking up dust bunnies) and with some minor rule-bending, the game is an excellent way to introduce the idea of coding and logic.
Players who don’t enjoy silent games or relying 100% on the aligned actions of others to ensure success may not enjoy Quirky Circuits as much as others. It is easy to imagine scenarios where people without a great deal of patience may get frustrated at others’ decisions. The selection of one card could inadvertently and accidently sabotage a command line, spiraling the team into a setback. Quirky Circuits is definitely intended for groups who work effectively and calmly together. Having a sense of how fellow teammates generally think through puzzle is also a plus.
Quirky Circuits accomplishes its primary objective—being a programming game accessible for all ages and skill levels. The enjoyment of the title is directly dependent on much individuals enjoy the core mechanic of coding. But for those who prefer these types of experiences, Quirky Circuits has a lot of offer in terms of replay value.
Recommended if you like: Robot Turtles, Mechs v. Minions, Magic Maze
Final Grade: A-
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