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The Shufflebuilding Game of Total Awesomeness!
What do pirates, ninjas, robots, zombies, aliens, wizards, tricksters, and dinosaurs have in common? They’re all trying to take over the world! But they can’t do it alone, so they’re teaming up.
Every combo brings a different experience in this fast-paced shufflebuilding game. Take two 20-card decks, smash them together, and then rock your opponents’ faces!
Each faction has a different style: pirates move cards, zombies come back from the discard pile, dinosaurs are just freaking huge. Each pairing creates different gameplay. And each game is a different throw-down!
Is Smash Up a game you can live without? Not if you’re awesome. Choose a side. Choose two! And start the carnage!
· Easy Gameplay
· Tons of strategy
· Dozens of deck combinations, making the replay value immensely high!
· Features 8 different factions, including dinosaurs with lasers!
Contents: 176 cards, rulebook.
Players: 2-4
Ages: 12 & Up
Playing Time: 45 minutes
UPC: 7-29220-05501-9
Year Published
2012
Play Time
45 min
Featured Videos
Review
Smash up in about 3 minutes
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 10
This page: 10
Sentiment:
pos 5 ·
mix 3 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–10 of 10
Video G3XrZkrmuco
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 23:44 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 61633 · mention_pk 154262
Click to watch at 23:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- highly thematic and modular
- potential for unique combos
Cons
- not played often
- hard to get to the table due to player preferences
Thematic elements
- Array
- Factions deck-building mash-up
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love Chronicles of Crime: 1400
- I love Splendor it's an amazing game it's a great introductory game to people who don't play as much board games
- Treasure Island I'm definitely keeping Treasure Island
- Sushi go we're keeping Sushi go Love Sushi go great game
- Point salad I love Point salad so fun so quick I love that everything keeps changing you can set your own goals for the game it's just very fun very cute love the artwork
- Smash Up this game also doesn't get played at all I've played it maybe two times a long long time ago
- Sleeping Gods I mean never getting rid of this what a beautiful beautiful game and just so exciting and yeah very heavy
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video yzM9xC2zEAU
Shelf Side game_review at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 60787 · mention_pk 153240
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Thematic execution is strong with clear faction identity and great art.
- Factions offer unique strategies that align with their themes.
- High potential for flashy combos and interactive plays.
- Base abilities add meaningful twists and variety to gameplay.
- Expansions improve balance and significantly boost replayability.
- Quality-of-life aids like trackers help manage state during play.
Cons
- Balance in the base game can be uneven; some factions feel stronger than others.
- Board state can become crowded and hard to track with many minions and bases.
- Lack of icons/keywords on cards can make it harder for new players to read states quickly.
- The base-count (players + 1) can dampen interaction unless players contest bases; sometimes encourages hoarding.
- Out-of-the-box experience can feel incomplete without play mats or trackers (recommended by players).
Thematic elements
- Chaotic mash-up of fantasy, sci-fi and pop culture to create zany themes; fun world where disparate factions team up
- Goofy, cross-genre faction battles with whimsical theming (ninjas, zombies, pirates, wizards, Leprechauns, dinosaurs, etc.)
- Lighthearted, humorous, cartoonish presentation that emphasizes theme over realism
Comparison games
- Dixit
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Base replacement — When bases score, they are discarded and replaced with new bases from the base deck.
- Base-centric scoring — Bases have a power value; players total power on a base to determine scoring, with the top three players earning points.
- Card draw and hand management — Players draw five cards; if no minions in hand, they may discard and redraw five.
- Combo-driven interaction — Many factions enable powerful combos and recursive effects, creating high-interaction turns.
- Compound Scoring — Bases have a power value; players total power on a base to determine scoring, with the top three players earning points.
- Deck building — Players build a 40-card deck by combining two 20-card factions.
- Deck construction — Players build a 40-card deck by combining two 20-card factions.
- One minion and one action per turn — On a turn, a player can play one minion and one action with on-play effects.
- Power tracking and articulation — Power on minions and bases, plus various effects, determine who controls bases and scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The theme of Smash Up is done incredibly well.
- This is a wacky mash-up of trading card ideas tossed into a board game.
- There are insane balls to the walls combo potential here.
- I like the base game enough that I went out and got two expansions.
- Expansions fix balance and dramatically increase replayability.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video oZpV_qikhLE
Drive-Thru Rundown game_review at 0:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 60161 · mention_pk 152604
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rich thematic flavor with strong pop-culture cues
- Depth of deck-building and interaction for a light-to-medium game
- High replayability due to multiple faction synergies
Cons
- Can become lengthy or AP-prone with dense combos
- Balance may vary among factions and expansions
Thematic elements
- conceived as chaotic faction-mixing with base-building and minion/battle control
- Factions from various universes mash-up in a post-apocalyptic playground; fantasy vs sci-fi crossovers
- flavor text and card art celebrate eclectic pop culture mashups
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Interruption — Certain cards allow actions to be played before base scores or as interrupts.
- action-cards and buffing — Action cards can buff minions, alter bases, or disrupt opponents.
- Deck building — Players assemble a deck by combining two factions and cards to power their engine.
- deck manipulation — Shuffling, drawing, and manipulating top cards to set up future turns.
- deck-building — Players assemble a deck by combining two factions and cards to power their engine.
- discard pile interactions — Cards may be moved to discard or retrieved to hand in various ways, affecting tempo.
- minion placement and base scoring — Minions are played on bases and scoring occurs when bases score, with players manipulating timing.
- special actions and interrupts — Certain cards allow actions to be played before base scores or as interrupts.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- play any action as a special action
- All other players must discard a minion or reveal their hand to show they have no minions.
- Each other player reveals the top two cards of his or her deck. Discard any minions revealed.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8FUwMEfty6Q
Meeple Mountain interview at 0:15 sentiment: positive
video_pk 36830 · mention_pk 110598
Click to watch at 0:15 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Energetic theme and combos
- Strong potential for expansions
Cons
- Can have a higher luck factor depending on draws
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Carcassonne
- Ticket to Ride
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative actions — Players combine different factions to create combos and strategic synergies.
- Deck building — Players draft and play minion and action cards to score points.
- deck-building — Players draft and play minion and action cards to score points.
- Faction Combination — Players combine different factions to create combos and strategic synergies.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we have a very round catalogue so we have something for every type of gamer
- it's nice to be able to kind of give something to everybody in every type of gamer
- we look far and wide between our Studios internally and then also external Studios we work with as third parties
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vFpqSpjGMHE
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 0:00
video_pk 11697 · mention_pk 34309
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Thank you so much, Jeff. We're really glad to hear your nephew is doing well.
- The base breaks, the winner gains points, and the clock is always ticking.
- I put aside a couple cards. Figure out what cards that was.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hVyViVvSOA4
Board Game Spotlight general_discussion at 21:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9483 · mention_pk 28045
Click to watch at 21:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- highly replayable with many factions and expansions
- easy to teach and quick to play
Cons
- faction balance can vary with combos
- base game may feel light to some players over time
Thematic elements
- quirky fantasy and sci‑fi factions collide
- faction mashups across modular bases
- humorous and chaotic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area_control — bases on the table are contested for points; control yields scoring opportunities.
- deck-building — players create a deck by combining two factions and then use it to play minions and actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really neat blend of deck building and negotiation
- Veiled Fate is a social deduction game that i end up loving as well
- Arc Nova is a heavy game
- it's gorgeous, the pagoda is integrated into the game
- Cascadia is the perfect kind of game for me to introduce to my son
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video tv-wGkiro_g
Before You Play top_10_list at 12:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7376 · mention_pk 21829
Click to watch at 12:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- dynamic combos with varied setups
- high replayability with many expansions
Cons
- can feel chaotic and overwhelmed for newcomers
- expansions can be enticing but expensive
Thematic elements
- deck-building with faction combos
- factional mashups (e.g., ninja ghosts, aliens, pirates)
- lighthearted, thematic chaos
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building — building a deck from two chosen factions and mixing them
- faction mashups — combining factions yields diverse abilities
- set scoring on bases — placing cards to score bases and gain control
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the artwork sold you
- it's the perfect game to teach people who don't play games
- volcano chits and lava flows
- it's like mafia
- the cards you mix them into a faction and now you have like ninja ghosts or like fairy dragons
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BKwC9OVHEKM
Unknown game_review at 6:39 sentiment: negative
video_pk 7135 · mention_pk 21130
Click to watch at 6:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
- Excessive downtime
- Unbalanced factions
- Chaotic gameplay
- Tedious expansions
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Base destruction — Competing to destroy bases
- Faction Combination — Mixing different themed factions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I feel with content creators these days everything is just so overly positive
- our goal with this channel has always been to treat you the viewer as if you were a friend
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Nu-vezJCHUE
Board Game Coffee general_discussion at 10:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4044 · mention_pk 11827
Click to watch at 10:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fun party-leaning with strong humor
- great for lighter game nights
Cons
- ups and downs depending on factions drawn
Thematic elements
- mash-up of factions like pirates, ninjas, zombies etc.
- shuffle-building hybrid fantasy
- light-hearted, chaotic
Comparison games
- Marvel Snap (app similarity in pacing sense)
- Oceans
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric player powers — each faction has unique abilities
- Deck-building + drafting — players draft factions and combine them for synergy
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we are going to give away board games to you
- this is such a great game
- stronghold games thank you so much for supplying this
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ojptKms7RXo
Three Minute Board Games game_review at 0:11 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 140 · mention_pk 421
Click to watch at 0:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Strong central premise: two distinct power sets per game create fun, emergent gameplay
- Accessible and flexible: can be played as casual or competitive
- High replayability through modular factions and many base/ability interactions
- Good variety from the core eight factions in the base box
Cons
- Expansion fatigue: large number of expansions; many are rushed or lower quality compared to early sets
- Diminishing returns on purchasing many expansions
- Keeping track of many expansions and bases can become unwieldy
Thematic elements
- humorous faction combat with base-area control
- Factions battling across multiple bases in a tongue-in-cheek, fantasy/sci-fi mash-up universe
- lighthearted, joke-forward, modular theme driven by card text
Comparison games
- Dice Throne
- Small World
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Base-based area control and scoring — Bases provide victory points and score based on the distribution and strength of minions; the top-left number indicates how many minions must be on a base to score.
- Card interactions and chaining — Minions and actions interact in ways that let players chain plays from discard piles or triggered abilities, enabling complex combos.
- Deck and base drafting with eventful bases — Bases are dealt in play and come with unique abilities; when a base scores, it’s replaced with a new one to alter the board state.
- Turn structure: up to two cards per turn (one minion, one action) — Players may play up to two cards per turn, resolving each in sequence; cards can chain to create combos beyond basic rules.
- Two-faction deck-building — Each player selects two distinct factions and shuffles their two faction decks together to form one personal deck.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Smash Up takes a very simple premise, what if each game you played you used two distinct power sets and had to figure out how to make them work and it runs with it
- the best thing about this game is its central premise it's both fun and creates great gameplay
- smash up: solid core game but the expansions jump the shark
- There is diminishing returns on getting multiple expansions for sure
- however, smash up has a massive pile of expansions and standalone games and i don't have anywhere near all of them here
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–10 of 10