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We tend to be a passionate lot us board gamers, so when we find a game we really like, we will often seek out alternative ways to play our favourites on the move. The recent rise in board game apps means that this needs to be no more complex than switching on our phone, but for those who still crave the gentle whoosh of card against slightly more card then there is a thriving market for card and dice versions of our favourite cardboard leviathans.
In 2014, Steffen Bogen started one of the greatest debates in board gaming history. It's divided gaming groups, families and destroyed friendships. The crucial question on everyone's lips was:
Is it Camel UP or Camel CUP?
Well, it's Camel Up obviously and anyone who disagrees is just plain bonkers. There, settled. That said, the new implementation of Camel Up does nothing to quell that debate as the original ambiguous title graphic of the big board game, makes a return here.
For those who never played the original, the theme here is basically the same. Camel Up Cards is a camel racing game in which players bet on the outcome of an insane desert race between five charmingly chunky wooden camels. Players do not 'own' an individual camel as in other race games, but are more like spectators at the race. Their betting schemes may shift and change throughout the game, but there are points available both during the game and at the end.
Playing Camel Up Cards
Camel Up Cards does away with the original board and sadly the quirky pyramid dice shaker from the big game, but there is little need for either here as the game is entirely card driven. Even the race track is constructed from the standard poker sized cards in the box.
The 'race track' length varies depending on the number of players, and the first major change in this version is that the card track allows for a very effective catch-up mechanism for camels that have fallen far behind, meaning camel nobbling is less effective in this version.
Each track card has two spaces initially, but at the end of each leg, if there is a clear two space gap between camels (apart from the lead), the card is flipped to its 'sandstorm' side which features only one space. It's a clever system and makes for a much more exciting race.
Each player gets two actions per turn. A compulsory 'Race Action' and an optional 'Betting Action'.
Racing Actions may be:
- Play a race card from your hand (one or two spaces).
- Play a race card from the top of the racing deck (more later).
- Place the Fox or the Palm Tree.
Fans of the original will recall the +1 and -1 cards that can be placed to additionally affect the camels' movement. In this version, those cards have been placed by whimsically thematic versions (which honestly, might be worth swapping out in the main game too). The Fox (or -card) runs onto the race track and blows raspberries at the camels and scares them, sending them back one space. The Palm Tree (or +card) 'twangs' the poor camels one additional space. Chunky meeples are used to represent these two and are frankly, adorable.
Race cards are dealt to the players at the beginning of each leg and in a slightly convoluted and complex (at first) discard and deck build process, the 'racing deck' is built for each leg. This process is fine once you get the hang of it, but because the process changes for every player count, the description in the rules can be a little tortuous to work your way through.
Players keep two cards in hand each leg, one secret, and one that will be shown to all players as an 'Intel' card. This is supposed to give some indication as to a player's intentions in the game, but in reality, makes very little difference. The rest of the cards form the racing deck for the leg which will drive the camels' movement. In this regard, players can gently 'stack' the racing deck, but due to the interaction between camels, it would need a very deep strategist to influence the deck predictably. Otherwise, buckle up and take Camel Up Cards for what it is; a very enjoyable racing game that is pretty random.
Playing the remaining card from your hand however, can make all the difference at the end of a leg and mean the difference between scoring big or walking home. The leg is over when the racing deck runs out and scores from leg betting are calculated. Speaking of which:
Betting Actions
These are optional but advisable. Players can take a leg or overall betting card from the supply. Players can have any number of leg betting cards, but only hold one each of an overall winner and overall loser card. If they wish to change their mind, they must swap the card they hold, out. Leg betting is not a simple affair as getting the position right at the end of the leg gains big money, but getting it slightly wrong can lose you money as well. Timing of your betting choices becomes quite important dependent on what you think may still be left in the racing deck for that leg.
In an effort to keep everything card based, the designers have also developed a money tracking system that involves a rotating two-sided card to give 1-8 pounds and a separate 9/10 double-sided card for multiples. Sounds complicated? It is, it's a mess. It is the one real downside to this version of the game and it feels like a couple of punch-out cards of money tokens really wouldn't have killed them. I'd strongly advise anyone buying the game to have a little supply of tokens to swap this system out. It's horrible.
The leg ends when the racing deck runs out and leg bet monies are calculated. If one of the camels is less than three spaces from the finish post, additional track spaces are added up to exactly three and another leg occurs. If any camel or camel stack (the rules are the same for moving camels as in the base game) crosses the line during a leg, then the game stops and leg and final betting monies are distributed.
The winner is the player with the most money.
Final Thoughts on Camel Up Cards
I work at a theatre to feed my game habit, and we have played a lot of Camel Up in the past. We love the game, but have always found a few aspects a little confusing. This version streamlines some of the slightly more clunky aspects of the original, especially in the betting phases. The addition of the fox and palm tree bring a nice thematic twist to an otherwise abstract mechanism. Though the pyramid dice tower is a sad component loss, it is just unnecessary here anyway.
Criticism has been levelled at the track actually taking up quite a bit of space for a card game, but honestly, it can be folded round or cards staggered and a bit of creativity solves this.
Camel Up Cards is a great game. It's perfect as a slightly heavier and longer filler, and the charm of camels, foxes and palm trees would take a very hard heart not to be taken in by. The feeling of having influence over the results is just strong enough to keep everyone engaged, but the randomness is such that it still leads to healthy accusations of 'jamminess' at the end.
Every group I've played this with has really enjoyed it and I can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a nice travel-sized board game with a bit of depth to it.
