- Learning time
- 5 minutes
- First play time
- 30 minutes
Carrooka
Designed by: Jack Furnival
Carrooka is a wonderful piece of bespoke engineering that also happens to be a fun game.
Inspired by the traditional Indian game Carrom, Carrooka allows you to play a tabletop flicking version of both snooker and pool. The rules for each are the same, but the methodology is different: instead of balls there are discs, and instead of a large rectangle you have a 65-80cm circle, happily built into it’s own Lazy Susan so when you turn arrives you can rotate the table to the orientation you want. Apart from a couple of rules around the ‘cue ball’ lying in unreachable places, and the curved cushion offering the possibility for some very different kind of shots, if you know pool/snooker, you know Carrooka.
The guru's verdict
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Take That!
Take That!
The same as in the original games - you can be snookered, but it's not the game's main focus.
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Fidget Factor!
Fidget Factor!
Low to moderate, depending on whether you're playing a friend or Ronnie O'Sullivan
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Brain Burn!
Brain Burn!
Low!
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Again Again!
Again Again!
If you enjoy one visit, it seems likely you'll enjoy many
Sam says
Great fun, as long as you're reasonably matched opponents. Two good players will enjoy a tactical battle; two bad ones can laugh their way through a slightly more chaotic undertaking. It's really a wonderful design that brings often-inaccessible sports - especially to youngsters - to the home. It isn't cheap: board and shipping is going to set you back something headed towards £200 at time of writing. But a lot of board games these days are £80 and upwards, so if you foresee this getting played a lot over the years, it could be the better investment. And it doesn't look bad hung on a wall between plays.