Designed by: Alexander Neumann
Misfits is so simple it doesn’t have an instruction book: all the rules are printed on the box.
The game is made up of 40 wooden pieces, and before play begins players randomly grab 10 each to form their supply (- there’s a maximum of three of the tiny cubes per player: one player grabbing them all would have a huge advantage). Play begins with someone placing one of their pieces centrally, starting a shared stack, and thereafter players take turns adding one of their own pieces anywhere on the stack as long as it doesn’t touch the table. The goal is to be first to place all of your pieces to win – but if any of them fall off during your turn, they go into your supply.
From this simple scenario arise three things – dastardly play, the occasional astonishing bit of balancing prowess, and some beautiful and bonkers constructions on the table.
Yep, you can find multiple turns arrive with seemingly nowhere to safely place a piece, and what's more if the thing collapses you're picking up a shedload of bits whilst clearing the decks for others. Everyone should make their peace with this before play begins.
Low. If it's not your turn you're invested in what happens.
No burning to speaking of, just the gentle calculations of weight, balance, friction, cantilevering and so on...
There's enough variety in the pieces to feel like you're not always placing the same stuff, but the fun of Misfits really manifests through the multiple ways they combine - or fail to - on the table.
2-4
Players
6+
Years
15-30
Mins
Sam says
There is some small vagueness here, like how many hands can you use or can you move what's on the stack using your piece as a tool -you definitely cannot do so with your hands. But these are easily house-ruled and Misfits is so easy to teach and play, creating eye-catching creations as it does, that it's been a smash hit with pretty much everyone I've introduced it to (though I'd argue it's much better with 3 or 4 players over two). Tactical stacker Bausack has been my favourite dexterity game for years, but I do believe Misfits has now edged it into second place. Great, dastardly good fun!