The universe is vast and full of stars. Some of these stars line up to form constellations…but why I am telling you this? You’re probably one of those people that plan their day around the daily zodiac horoscope. Sorry, I’m a Taurus, I tell it like it is! I digress, we’re here today to talk about “Twinkle”, a tabletop game that’ll be entering the Kickstarter process in December, 2020. Before we begin it’s worth noting that the copy I received is a prototype and thus, everything you’re about to see is subject to change. I’m also required per FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid for my time to cover this game, but any and all opinions are my own.
“Twinkle” is a game about, you guessed it, constellations. In this 2-4 player game (ages 8+), players will be takes with constructing their own constellation via dice. Players will be attempting to complete scoring cards and the player with the most points at the end of it all, wins! The game includes 30 polyhedral dice in 5 sizes (D4, D6, D8, D10, D12), 28 connectors, 1 two-sided board (galaxy and scoring sides), 7 scoring cards, a twinkle card, 20 mission cards (10 silver, 10 bronze), 4 scoring markers, and a rulebook.
The board is placed in the center of the table to where two starting stars of the same color is each facing a player. These starting stars are the players’ starting constellations. Each player gets a scoring marker that matches the color of these starting stars. Depending on the number of players, so many scoring cards are removed from the game. Scoring cards feature a unique color…those that remain will have the matching dice placed next to them. All the D8s are rolled and placed in the center of the board. Each player gets 7 connectors and the twinkle card is placed face-up next to the scoring cards. The player who last saw a shooting star goes first, or choose randomly.
On a player’s turn, they’ll select a die a place it in their constellations respecting some placement rules. By making dice combinations they’ll earn victory points according to the scoring cards. Scoring cards score in various ways and each color has their own scoring method. For example, the blue scoring card scores for every pair of blue dice connected under the same die or starting star. Green dice, on the other hand, scores one victory point per green die plus one extra for every die with the same amount of sides but of a different color placed anywhere within a constellation. The twinkle card is a scoring card that is in every game to keep some things consistent.
Players can choose a die in one of two ways:
1. Roll three available dice of their choice that are near the scoring cards or in the center of the board and choosing one. The other two dice are returned to their original location.
2. Choose a D8 from the center of the board without rolling it.
The chosen die is placed in the player’s constellation, using connectors. A player’s constellation will form toward them and away from the board. Every die placed must have a lower value than the one it’s attempting to connect to. Each starting star and die may have at most two connectors attached to it.
The game ends when all players cannot perform any more actions. Any unused dice are returned to the box. The board is then flipped to the reverse side for scoring purposes. Players use the scoring cards to determine how many points their constellation has scored and whomever has the most, wins the game!
There is an advanced setup for players who want more of a challenge. Bronze mission cards, for example, all score three points at the end of the game. A random bronze card is included face-up during setup should you choose to include it. Likewise, players can add two silver mission cards face-up during setup…these can be accomplished multiple times by each player. If players feel really daring they can include one bronze and two silver during setup.
Editor’s Note: The above doesn’t cover everything found in the rulebook, but should give you a good idea as to how the game is played.
Dice games can be hit or miss with me. I hate RNG (random number generating) with a passion, but love dice games that include ways to modify dice or reroll them so that things aren’t so random. I would have loved to see more dice manipulation here but on the plus side, everyone is in the same boat (erm, spaceship) as you. Being able to choose a D8 without rolling it is convenient, though a player my end up rerolling one that you wanted and whether they use it or put it back, the die you wanted may be lost for good. It would have been cool to see some kind of dice manipulating powers to offset the randomness of the dice rolls.
That being said, there’s a lot of punch in such a small package. I love how varied the scoring cards are. They really make you think about which dice you choose and what colors to go after. There’s also the matter of placement rules…you may want that “3” for its color, but the die you’re connecting it to is a “6” meaning that 3, 4, and 5 can no longer be used in that particular column/connection. Remember, a connecting die must have a lower value than the one before it in the connection. It’s a risk/reward system as you never know what RNG will give you on your next dice roll.
The mission cards add even more replayability. One bronze card, for example, rewards a player three points to whomever has the most dice in their constellation. Another gives players three points to the player who has the fewest different types (D4, D6, etc.). Silver mission cards are just as varied and they all will make you think about whether you want to stick to the scoring cards for points or try and concentrate on the mission cards. Long story short, there’s a lot to think about on your turn, especially if you utilize the mission cards.
I won’t comment on the quality of the components as Kickstarter campaigns have been known to improve things over their pre-Kickstarter prototype counterparts. That said, I didn’t have any issues. The iconography on the cards will take some getting used to so keep the rulebook handy as it lists all of the cards and their conditions.
“Twinkle” is worth your attention, no doubt about it. It’s family-friendly and appropriate for players of most ages. The space/constellation theme is a plus in my book…though as a HUGE Star Wars/Trek fan I’m pretty biased. If you like what you see here, consider checking out the game’s Kickstarter campaign for more information.
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vgames/twinkle-2