For almost as long as humanity has existed, we have found a way to play silly games with cards. Even when we aren’t actually playing a card game, we’re building towers or working up magic tricks. Given our seemingly hardwired love of all things cards, it should come as no surprise that Big Potato Game’s Cards vs Gravity Pro is such a home run.
Like all good party games, the premise is simple: be the first to balance all your cards on the increasingly perilous and sprawling tree. Starting with an even number of cards, players take it in turns to slot their card into one of the matching colour without knocking any off or toppling the tower altogether. What sounds simple in theory becomes a fierce trial of dexterity in practice, with the games progression bringing greater and greater uncertainty, where even the thought of a ham fisted move could spell disaster. Add into the mix extra flimsy and extra heavy cards that are introduced in this Pro edition and you have yourself one hell of a game.
As usual with Big Potato releases, the components themselves really shine. Cards vs Gravity Pro comes with its own carry case, making it perfect to chuck in your bag for the day. However, seeing how nicely the whole game condenses down really highlights how disproportionately big the box itself feels. While not a huge disappointment, I can’t help but feel as though the packaging is wasteful, with a ‘bigger=better’ mentality winning out over any thoughts of sustainability.
When you get into the game itself the first thing you’ll notice is that the cards themselves are sturdy and (potentially most importantly) water resistant, so you can play almost anywhere without worrying about damaging them. The magnetic plug fits most standard bottle sizes, and can even work with plastic bottles, although you will need to weigh it down with some water first.
Overall, Cards vs Gravity Pro is a real winner in my eyes and has accompanied me to its fair share of parties. As usual, Big Potato have managed to elevate a simple enough concept and turned it into a crowd pleaser.
