I’m a gamer, always have been. Problem is for a large number of years that’s really just consisted of the video variety. That’s a huge mistake on my part, to not enjoy the video game’s analog brethren… the board game. There’s actually a vibrant and intense board game world out there that’s been pushed to the sidelines by game players such as ourselves for too long. In this column I’ll be diving into this world, looking at games that hopefully you’d like to try out for yourself.

OK I ain’t gonna lie, last column’s game ZERTZ was a bit of a mind-bender. Maybe abstract games aren’t really your thing, and that’s cool. Maybe you’re looking for something a bit lighter, fun and fancy free… well that’s fine too. Actually, it’s better than fine because today I’m going to hit you right in the face with what you’ve been looking for! It’s called Cloud 9 and point of the game is to earn points by braving the ride in a hot air balloon as it rises into the clouds. Potential points increase as the balloon rises, but so does the potential that it’ll crash and you’ll earn nothing! Jump out at the right time and you’ll run away with the victory!

Ready to take a ride?

The game starts with everyone getting dealt 6 cards that have different colored hot air balloons on them. All the players pieces start in the balloon as it sits on the ground. The first player to go rolls two dice which show the colored balloon cards he needs to play for the balloon to rise (as opposed to crash). After the dice are rolled each person says whether or not they think the dice roller has the cards displayed on the dice. Anyone who says no leaps out of the balloon and collects the points listed in the cloud under the balloon (for example 12 in the picture above, though it’s a bit obscured) and they’re out for the remainder of the round, which ends when someone can’t satisfy the dice roll and crashes the balloon back down to the beginning.

So all the people that stay in look hopefully towards the dice roller who then plays the cards from their hand (if they can). The balloon then rises to the next cloud where the dice are passed to the next person. Every few clouds you add more dice to the roll, so as it gets higher and higher (and thus worth more and more points) you need to roll 3 or even 4 dice. If you stay in the balloon and the person doesn’t have the necessary cards, the balloon crashes with you in it. Don’t worry… you don’t die. You just don’t get any points, but everyone who jumped out gets back in and you draw more cards. Hence the press your luck element similar to what we saw in Incan Gold, you need to stay in longer than other players to collect more points, but if you stay in too long you end up with nothing. Staying in the balloon and getting it to the top nets you 25 points. This process continues until a round ends with at least one person having at least 50 points.

I hate to say that’s all there is to it… but that’s essentially all there is to it. What the rules don’t include is mentioning how much fun you end up having while you’re playing the game (thought I gotta assume they think you’ll have fun playing since they made it!). Since the game is so lighthearted it’s hard to get mad when you stay in one time to many and crash down for 0 points. Hell, deep down you knew it was your fault anyway.

The game needs at least 3 players and goes up to 6, and for my money the more the merrier. The game only takes about 20 minutes to play (slightly longer if you’ve got more people) so it’s one you can play a few times in a row or use it in between heavier fare. Since you need to play the cards if you have them, the only real decision to make is when to jump. There’s a fun aspect of bailing out and taking your little piece out of the balloon. They did a great job on the balloon component and the fact that it sorta floats over the game board really does help convey the game as being lighthearted.

It’s very akin to Incan Gold, but I feel like this one is more accessible to the family and perhaps the wife/girlfriend that wouldn’t really get into the tomb exploration thing. I’ll be taking to my parents on Christmas Eve, and even though they NEVER play boardgames I really think I have a great shot at getting them into this one. As an intro/gateway/filler game, or one to play multiple times in a row… I can’t recommend Cloud 9 enough.

Cloud 9 was designed by Aaron Weissblum and originally released in 1999. It is published by Out of the Box Publishing. It can be purchased at Amazon.com, Funagaingames.com or from your Friendly Local Game Store.