Publisher: Ravensburger | Player Count: 2-4 | Play Time: 10-15 minutes | Age Range: 5+
Stomp the Plank is an addictive dexterity game that manages to capture all the push-your-luck joy of a game like Blackjack, but there’s no money on the line here – it’s just a question of whose elephant pirate will fall first and go tumbling into the sea. Stomp the Plank Board Game is incredibly easy to teach. You just open the box and start playing – but even with that simple ruleset, each decision feels tense and interesting, even on other player’s turns.
Players will take turns flipping cards that feature one of six pirate-themed objects hoping to flip over treasure cards and avoid drawing a duplicate symbol. If they stop before, everyone else adds some wooden chips to the end of their plank, putting more pressure on the magnet holding it up. If they flip a card with a duplicate symbol, they have to move their elephant forward on their plank, making their situation that much more precarious.
It’s designed as a kid’s game, but anyone, and I mean anyone, can have fun with Stomp the Plank. It will have any group on the edge of their seats, as players decide whether or not to flip one more card… anticipating the dramatic moment that one of the planks collapses under the weight.
What is Stomp the Plank Board Game?
Theme: A Fun Pirate Game
Stomp the Plank is a push-your-luck game with a dexterity element since they’ll be stacking up wooden chips on the edge of their plank over the course of the game.
The (loose) theme is a voyage on a pirate ship with anthropomorphic elephant pirates (and one Giraffe) out on the high seas – with each of the elephants walking their own, individual plank.
Why are all four elephants walking the plank at the same time? Why are we stacking barrels on the end of each of the planks? How is the giraffe managing all of this while steering the ship? And the flipping of the cards, what’s the story there?
We don’t know. And it doesn’t matter. This game is good, clean fun with no fluff or extraneous rules and mechanics. So the fact that you need to search Captain Giraffe’s chest for treasure cards each turn is of little consequence.
All you need to know is that you are animals, you’re on a pirate ship, and someone is going to crash into the sea.
Set up: Assembling the Pirate Ship
Setting up Stomp the Plank is a breeze due to the excellent design of the game box which doubles as a pirate ship with attachable planks.
Empty all the components from the box, even the ones you won’t be using. Shuffle the deck of cards and place it next to the board with the different card slots. Put the wooden chips into piles where all players can easily reach them.
Flip the box over and place the four attachable planks, two on each side, on the magnets holding them in place. Each player picks one of the four elephants and places it on their plank, in the safest space – closest to the ship.
How to Play Stomp the Plank Board Game
On a player’s turn, they flip treasure cards from the deck, in an attempt to search Captain Giraffe’s chest for valuable and, importantly, unique treasure. The deck contains cards with six different pirate-themed symbols including a map, hook, compass, cutlass, ruby, and telescope. There is an equal number of each card in the deck.
Players can choose to stop flipping cards at any time, but if they ever flip over a duplicate symbol, their turn ends immediately and they are required to move their elephant one space forward on their plank.
If they choose to stop revealing cards before they have flipped a duplicate symbol, all other players will be required to add tokens to the end of their planks – filling up your opponent’s planks to make them the first to tumble.
If a player is lucky enough to reveal six cards in a row without a duplicate, they win immediately.
The dexterity part of the game comes into play because you have to be careful moving your elephant and when you add tokens because if either of these actions causes your plank to collapse, you lose and all other players share the victory.
Components and Quality
What’s in the Stomp the Plank Box?
High-quality components include a pirate ship box, 4 planks with embedded magnets, 4 elephant pirate figures, 49 treasure cards, and 60 wooden tokens.
I really like what they did with the pirate ship box, making it into the play area. This makes setup easy, though you do have to take all components out of the plank box every time you play since you need to flip the plank box to set it up
I do worry that there is some inconsistency with the magnets on the pirate ship box and attachable planks that could become an issue over time, but I have not had any game-breaking issues. One of my magnets requires a bit more care than the others, but that’s no problem. I always take that one, and let the kids take the sturdier ones.
The cute toy components, like the colorful and fun elephant pirates, are well made and hold up to crashing onto the table over and over, with no problem. The treasure cards are decent quality as well and will hold up to repeated shuffling.
Review
Playing Stomp the Plank Board Game with my kids was great because they could easily pick up the rules, and connect with the drama of anticipating any plank’s elephant figures falling, but they still found it challenging to place the wooden chips and carefully advance their own elephant pirate forward on their plank.
That’s why recommend it as a great dexterity game for kids, since it does test their fine motor skills and gets them physically engaged in the game.
Like any great kids’ game, the decisions in Stomp the Plank are straightforward – should I take another card, or not? – but the strategy is not as simple as that. They have to consider whether it would be better to play it a little safer to ensure everyone else has to add tokens so that their opponent’s planks start to get steadily heavier. Or, if they are the player most at risk, does it make sense to push it and try and get more treasure cards in the hope that another player’s elephant pirate will fall? It’s a great decision space with no obvious answers. And it’s very fun to watch your kids choose between filling their opponent’s planks or if they’ll continue to search Captain Giraffe’s chest for more treasure cards.
Also Read: Top 6 Dexterity Board Games for Kids
The tension is palpable especially as they add tokens or draw more treasure cards, in part because it is happening in a physical space, kids connect with the gameplay and the drama so easily. There are no extraneous rules or downtime. It’s just silly family fun from start to finish.
Conclusion: More Than a Fun Pirate Game
I don’t think I need to beat around the bush too much here. Stomp the Plank is a good game. Classic family fun, great tension as you flip cards or add tokens and all players are engaged the whole time you are playing.
It’s fast. It’s funny. Never outstays it’s welcome. Playing this as a filler or a night-ender with a group of adults is just as viable as summer fun with your kids. I took this to a family reunion and had the whole family gathered around cheering and engaged – including people who weren’t even playing.
Sure, it’s a colorful and fun pirate game, designed for kids, that only play to four – but in many ways, it has the DNA of a party game. It packs a lot of fun into a little box.
Take the safe bet and add Stomp the Plank to your collection.
FAQ
How long does it take to play Stomp the Plank?
A typical game of Stomp the Plank takes about 20-30 minutes. This makes it a great choice for a quick game session or as a fun way to end an evening.
What is the recommended age for players for Stomp the Plank?
Stomp the Plank Board Game is suitable for children aged 5 and up. The simple rules and physical components make it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of ages.
Can more than four players play Stomp the Plank?
Stomp the Plank is designed for up to four players. However, with some house rule modifications, more players could potentially be included, with teams sharing control of an elephant or taking turns.
Are there any expansion packs available for Stomp the Plank?
As of now, there are no expansion packs for Stomp the Plank. The Pirate ship box set includes everything you need to enjoy the game.
What skills does Stomp the Plank help develop in children?
Stomp the Plank Board Game helps develop fine motor skills, decision-making, and strategic thinking. It also encourages social interaction and cooperative play, making it a valuable addition to family game night.