Game Review: Top Promoter

pic1701236_mdTop Promoter
Game Salute/Moore Games Please 2014

Top Promoter is a lightweight, quick, fun game. It is themed around boxing, but you don’t need to be a fan of boxing to enjoy this game. You are a promoter, attempting to get your fighters into arenas. Each arena has 3 bouts, with the main event paying out more than the earlier events. This mechanic works really well for giving you the thematic feel of the game. The game is for 3 to 5 players.

Each player has their own deck of fighters and promotional tricks. The card names are amusing and lighthearted (Larry lefty, Has Been, and the Big Chicken are just a few). Each fighter has a hometown, weight class, popularity rating and dice stat/knock out rating. The card art is fun, but is repeated (as are some of the names) in other decks. So you might have the same “person” come up against himself from a different promoter. That is just me being picky tho. I understand that in a game with 15 boxers times 5 players artwork can get pricy, but that little extra effort would really enhance the fun factor. It in now way effects the playability of the game. You only play once through your deck, so picking the right fighters gives a nice lightweight strategy to the game.

You begin the game by randomly selecting a number of locations based on the number of players. Lay out a number of face up locations equal to the number of players minus one. Each location supports 3 bouts, the bout closest to the location is the main event, the second is the Mid event, and the lower card is the starting event. Each player shuffles their deck and draws 6 cards. Each player selects one of their boxers and places it face down in front of them. When all have chosen, the cards are revealed and placed in the bout positions based on the highest popularity first. Boxers who are placed on the location that matches their hometown will get an extra dice when their match is played. Once placed, the players draw back up to 6 cards. Play continues until all bouts on a location fill. They immediately resolve first bout up to the main event. The players roll dice to determine the winner of the match and are paid out according to the bout position, length of the bout, and underdog bonus. Should a player win all three matches at a location, they will also receive a clean sweep bonus.

Once the last location is resolved, the game is over and the player with the highest amount of money wins the game.

This is a fun game with good balance and nice humor. Fun for all ages, regardless of your interest in boxing as a sport.  Recommended.