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Cloud 9 - The Daring Game of Ups and Downs
Players earn points by daring to stay in the basket of a hot air balloon as it rises. Points increase as the balloon climbs from cloud to cloud, but so does the risk of the balloon falling. Should you jump out to save your points or trust that the pilot will take you safely higher?
Everyone places their passenger token into the balloon's basket to start the trip, and receives a hand of six balloon cards. Then, each turn, a different "pilot" rolls an increasing number of specialized dice to see if the balloon can stay aloft. The dice dictate how many of the balloon cards are needed of each color. (There are also optionally played Wild Cards to keep everyone guessing.) Each player decides whether they think the pilot will have the cards to successfully take the balloon up, or whether they should jump out and keep the points earned so far. If they stay, they run the risk of getting no points if the pilot fails. If the balloon does fall, it is placed back on the lowest cloud. Everyone hops aboard and draws one new card, and the next trip begins. When a player earns 50 points the game is over.
- Cute aesthetic
- Allows for customization and 'blinging out' games
- May not appeal to those who dislike cats
- Cats
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Token Replacement — Tokens are provided to replace existing game components.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Friends, welcome to another episode of Good Morning Society, your weekly dose of board games, beverages, and shenanigans.
- The first surprise is Becca.
- We're playing Baseball Highlights 2045, the bases loaded edition today.
- Tumblin' Dice. I wouldn't even say it's a hit, it's an obsession around here.
- Friends, it's time for our JACKED UP MATCHUP.
- This is one of my all-time favorite sport. Actually, it is my all-time favorite sports game, my all-time favorite baseball game.
- Baseball's so brown. Did you ever notice?
- You beat me. I only had three.
- We're going to do a two, three, two, four match, so I'll play the first two games at home. You'll play the next three games, if necessary, visitors or at home.
- You've probably seen stuff from Laser Vision come out of that.
- Go Dodgers and Go Dodgers.
References (from this video)
- Fun for large groups
- Engaging push-your-luck mechanic
- Original version overshadowed by remakes
- Push-your-luck, risk management
- Hot air balloon race / ascent challenge
- Lighthearted party/large-group game
- Celestia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Push Your Luck — Players decide when to jump out of the balloon to score points while continuing to roll and collect cards
- push-your-luck — Players decide when to jump out of the balloon to score points while continuing to roll and collect cards
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "The concept of jumping out at the right moment, I think it's amusing"
- "Doom was the precursor. Doom the board game, which was 83 for me in 2005, fell off the list instantly"
- "Waterfall Park has better components. It's brighter"
- "It's a very strategic, very fun game"