Tapple: A Party Game of Speed, Letters, and Brain Freezes

How many answers can you come up with for a single category, such as ’comic books’? Probably quite a few. But it’s harder than you think when you’re up against a ten-second timer and can’t give an answer that starts with the same letter of an answer already given.

Published by The Op, Tapple has been around since 2012. A classic party game, it can be loud, difficult, and tons of fun.

Gameplay

Tapple is played with a round device. In the center of the device is the button to start the timer and on the sides are tabs, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each round a category card is drawn; this might be something like ‘pizza toppings’ or ‘landmarks’. The timer is then started.

When you are holding the device you have ten seconds to come up with an answer that fits the category. If you fail to do so, you are eliminated from the round and the device is passed to the next player who then restarts the timer. If you come up with an answer, you press in the tab whose letter is the first letter in your answer. You may not give an answer if the corresponding letter tab has already been used this round. So, for example, if the category is ‘pizza toppings’ and someone has already said 'pineapple' and pushed in the P tab, you could not then say 'pepperoni.' Once you push in a letter tab, the timer automatically resets and you pass the device to the next player.

The last player left after everyone else has been eliminated wins the round and takes the category card. You then reset the tabs for the next round and draw a new category. The first player to win three categories wins the game.

Review

Tapple is a party game in the tradition of Catch Phrase and Taboo. It’s loud, it’s fast, and it can be surprisingly tricky to come up with those words when the timer is ticking away. The game gadget works well, and it’s satisfying to hit down those letter tabs, while also conveniently tracking what letters have already been used.

The device works well and seems to be sturdy. Category cards are double-sided and have two categories on each side, so there’s a good bit of replay value there. However, the game could use a better box as there is no insert to prevent the device from sliding around.

Creativity and outside-the-box thinking is encouraged for your answers, but at the same time, you might want to set some ground rules before each category. Some of them can be a little open-ended, although disputed answers can also be resolved based on majority vote.

If you enjoy this type of fast-playing party game, Tapple is going to be a hit. You can always think of a dozen answers after the fact, but in the heat of the moment it can be surprisingly tricky to think of an obscure answer once the obvious letters have already been claimed!

Pros: Fast playing, super easy to teach and play, device works well

Cons: Could use a better box, may need to establish some guidelines for answers among your group

Disclosure: we received a complimentary review copy of this game.