I remember playing Spot The Difference games as a kid. They seemed to be near ubiquitous, featuring in newspapers and comics, on the back of cereal packets and even on kids menus at restaurants. But what if there was a board game based on this tried and true formula for noticing what has changed between two near identical images you ask?
Well now there is! Difference from Gigamic Game is a simple game for 2 to 6 players, aged 7 and upwards, competing to get through a stack of cards each slightly changed from the one in the middle. Can you spot all the differences first and prove yourself the champion difference spotter?
I remember playing Spot The Difference games as a kid. They seemed to be near ubiquitous, featuring in newspapers and comics, on the back of cereal packets and even on kids menus at restaurants. But what if there was a board game based on this tried and true formula for noticing what has changed between two near identical images you ask?
Well now there is! Difference from Gigamic Game is a simple game for 2 to 6 players, aged 7 and upwards, competing to get through a stack of cards each slightly changed from the one in the middle. Can you spot all the differences first and prove yourself the champion difference spotter?
A Visual Treat
The cards themselves are beautifully illustrated. They are full of quirky charm, which is vitally important given how so much of this game is spent just staring at them. The metal tin is also very sleek and easy on the eyes with a quality feel to it, especially the raised lettering on the title.
Setup And Gameplay
Distribute all but 1 of the 25 cards of the same theme (there are 4 themes to choose between) evenly to all the players and place one card in the middle. Each card has one unique deviation so therefore there are 2 differences between any pair of 2 cards. When you’ve spotted both differences between your card and the central one, you say “difference” and name/ point out the alterations.
You then place the top card from your stack onto the stack in the middle and play resumes. The winner is the player who manages to reduce their stack to zero first. And that’s it, that’s the whole game.
So Is It Fun?
Yes it is but it does have a few problems. For a start, the player who has the centre card oriented towards them has a huge advantage over the players for whom the centre card is upside down or on its side. Also, some of the differences are very easy to spot in a second or two, while some are incredibly difficult. There are a few that took over 20 minutes for me to find!
In two player games we were able to solve the orientation problem by having both of us side by side facing the same way, but at higher player counts that would be impossible and Difference is playable for up to 6 players.
Who Is This Game For / Not For?
Difference would be great for parents of 7-10 year old kids who want something fun and easy to play with them. It’s also great for those who like spot the difference puzzles, including adults that may have a sense of nostalgia for them. It’s great for people going on holiday too as it comes in a small, easily packable and hardwearing tin.
Difference would not be great for anyone wanting a heavy or strategic game. It’s not for people who are looking for a party game with lots of interaction between the players. It’s not for very young infants, and it’s not for people who want a fair and balanced game as orientation of the centre card and vast disparity between the difficulty to spot the differences can make games feel unfair.
Replayability
The game comes with four different themes, with a few months to forget the differences that players found the last time they played that theme, this game is somewhat replayable. Obviously, the differences are always the same so playing the same theme again too soon wouldn’t be great fun.
Final Thoughts From Me
Difference is a beautifully presented spot the difference card game with limited replayability and a few flaws but if you’re looking to spend time with appropriately aged children, especially if you’re taking the kids on holiday, this is a great way to pass a couple of hours, as well as building the observational skills of your little ones. Just be prepared to let them discard their card early if they haven’t got it within a minute or two or else it could become a frustrating experience for them.
