Publisher: Self Published
Designer: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Year: 2012
Genre: Alleged party game
Players: Two or more victims
Ages: 18+
Playing Time: 45 excruciating minutes
MSRP: $34.95
Rarely will I run across a game which I have no rational idea why it exists. Sure plenty of titles aren’t my cup of tea but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an audience; I don’t claim to be a fan of every genre of gaming out there but even the sorts of styles I’m less than enthusiastic about can surprise me from time to time with a top notch winner.
Sorry to say DysFUNction is not a top notch winner. In fact it’s about as far away from being a winning game design as humanly possible. Seemingly the folks behind the design of DysFUNction must have never played the Game of Life or any number of other boring roll and move board games sold over the last thirty years. Or if they did play them, their gameplan must have been to design a board game even more mind numbingly dull than what’s come before. It that was the plan, then the designers have succeeded spectacularly!
Players begin by placing their luggage cart as well as three suitcases on any space on the board. The object is to be the first player to gain fifteen suitcases. One by one each player rolls a die, moves that number of spaces and performs the action on the board. That action can be gaining bags, losing bags or drawing a Family fun card or Dig Deep card. Each of the win or lose spaces has some oddball bit of text like, “Your birthday cake is half baked. So is your dad. Gain 2 bags,” and other nonsensical tidbits.
If you land on a Family Fun or Dig Deep space you draw the respective card and follow the instructions. You might simply lose bags, or answer a question about your family and gain bags, or have to tell a story about yourself or a family member. The majority of the questions focus on things about your family which annoy you or carry negative connotations. Can’t you just feel the excitement?
There’s a also side track which you can end up on as well called Denial, which serves no real purpose outside making DysFUNction an even more annoying game.
DysFUNction is advertised as a party game and I can certainly see busting it out at a party. Of course, only if you’re looking to send your guests home as soon as possible that is…
Rarely do I run across a game which I really dislike. Just as I began this review I know there’s plenty of different strokes for different folks yet I can’t possibly imagine anyone with an even passing interest in board games enjoying anything about DysFUNction. The design is nonexistent as this sort of roll and move and draw a card sort of thing has been around for decades. Add on top of this the fact the game isn’t any fun; most people I know aren’t the sorts to want to carry on about the imperfections of their family and friends nor, if they did, would be prodded to do so by playing a lame title like this.
There’s absolutely nothing to recommend DysFUNction to anyone unless they may feel The Game of Life is the ultimate gaming experience. For anyone else I’d certainly recommend giving this game a wide berth and keep $34.95 in their pocket. Granted, the component quality is nice enough but, outside of that, I found DysFUNction to be a steaming pile of crap.
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