Designed by: Danny Brittain,Tim Purkess
Bladder is a two-player game based on the origins of football (or soccer). Before Corinthian play, before even a pitch, the games’ origins were a little more brutal: two teams facing off against each other in what was a cross between a game and a punch-up.
In Bladder (so-named because of what the original ‘ball’ was made from) players recreate this, as they try and carry the ball to their opponent’s goal. Each side begins with a team on their own half of the board, and can move any of their pieces a single square in any direction. The bladder itself starts in the middle of the board, and the first to get three pieces adjacent can take control of it – literally putting on the head of one of your pieces.
You can lame (remove from play) opponent pieces by getting two of your own pieces adjacent, and you can grab the ball from them by getting three pieces adjacent. The player in possession of the bladder can also pass it though – up to three squares in any direction. As soon as the bladder reaches the goal of an opponent, you win the game!
Lots. The game is more war than sport.
Reasonably low, though you may find you need a minute or two to gauge your options.
Like (a simpler) chess, it's almost a game of waiting for your opponent to make a mistake.
The game is fairly speedy with a little variety. You can play defensive, focusing on the bladder, or go all-out attack and try to weaken your opponent.
2-2
Players
8+
Years
15-30
Mins
Sam says
A decent abstract -type battle that goes for an old-school flavour and look, and pulls it off. Although the rules are easy to pick up, I think it might be a bit of a tough sell for families as it only plays two, and is as combative as chess. I enjoyed it okay, but I think those excited by Bladder might be quite a small group - it's less sophisticated than chess, less accessible than draughts, and with a curious history/sports theme that feels rather niche.