Chicken Heist
Fourtato Games
3-8 Players
Play Time: 10-20 Minutes
I like the concept of semi-cooperative games. The idea of working together until the last possible moment has a certain thrill to it. Unfortunately, I haven’t found one that really does it for me yet. I’ve liked quite a few, like Hellapagos and Fillibuster, but there hasn’t been a game that has made me fall in love with the genre yet.
Chicken Heist is the latest game in the genre that I’ve tried, so how does it stack up with the rest of the games?
In Chicken Heist, 3-8 players will come together as a group of chickens attempting to rob a bank. Each player is given a character card with a unique ability, decision cards, and action cards. Event cards will be placed face down, and play will start with the starting player. Players can take a loot card from the loot pile (Rob), swap event cards without looking (Tinker), and play action cards. All of these actions are taken with the intention of preparing for one of the event cards to be flipped after everyone has made their turn.
The operation phase then begins which is where all the fun begins. Players need to assess their situation and decide what to do with their action cards. Players can run, stay, or hide. An event card will be flipped which usually results in either all or specific players potentially being caught (And losing the game). The decision that players make determines their fate and if the game will continue.
In the beginning, there is a lot of luck involved in the decision unless the right action cards were played earlier. As the game progresses, it becomes easier to decide if a player should flee or stay. The Hide card is especially interesting because it can be used multiple times if the card is played when the event affects that player. If it is used at a bad time though, players will lose the Hide card which makes the decision to run or stay even more perilous.
Players will want to work together to an extent to ensure that at least someone makes it out of the heist. If the team fails to do, so it is possible for everyone to lose prematurely. Still, at some point players will need to put #1 in front of everyone else. Pressing your luck is often thrilling, and it’s nice to see informed decisions pay off.
The game ends when there are no players left in the heist. The game can also end when the second “Driver’s Signal” card is revealed, which automatically ends the heist. The loot in the getaway truck will be split between surviving players. Whoever has the most loot wins.
Chicken Heist is an enjoyable game that combines teamwork with press your luck mechanics. Players can interact and hurt their teammates using their action cards. While cooperation is encouraged in this game, our group mostly played competitively throughout. I think some teamwork can thrive in this game, especially between certain players, but overall it takes a backseat. That or maybe our group is just mean-spirited towards each other.
I do want to add that Chicken Heist doesn’t thrive at higher player counts. When more than five players are participating the game often feels just a bit too slow and loses too much momentum. Games with three players are still enjoyable but it doesn’t feel like the grand heist at that point. The sweet spot is 4-5 players. Fortunately, Chicken Heist is easy to teach and can be enjoyed by most ages, though the developers recommend the game for children 13 and older.
Presentation-wise, this game embraces a simple but adorable aesthetic. The cards have bright colors and small art, but the art is so cute that I don’t mind. Nothing looks or feels cheap, and the box is the perfect size for this game (Which I appreciate).
I found Chicken Heist to be a delightful little filler game but suffers from being just a bit too slow at higher player counts. Still, if you find the right group this can be a fun little game.
Chicken Heist
I found Chicken Heist to be a delightful little filler game but suffers from being just a bit too slow at higher player counts. Still, if you find the right group this can be a fun little game.
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Gameplay
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Design
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Enjoyment