Oh No, Volcano!
2-4 players | Ages 8+ | 15-25 minutes
Publisher: Buffalo Games, 2023
Art: Adam Grason
In Oh No, Volcano!, you race to climb and collect ancient treasure while dodging lava! Peril lies ahead on every turn. Play climber cards to move your team of explorers up the face of the volcano, then drop a lava ball from the spot listed on each card. Watch the lava balls rattle and roll down, knocking off any explorers in its path... including your own if you're not careful! Choose your moves carefully, and be the first to collect all of your treasure!
It’s probably no surprise that the idea for this game came from Plinko/Pachinko, which I’ve always found to be one of the more fascinating games of chance. When considering how to turn that physical idea into a turn-based game, the image of pawns climbing up the pegs came to me - which of course also immediately suggested fireballs falling down a volcano! The design was originally co-operative, but as things developed with Buffalo Games, we opted for something a bit more cut-throat - and even found a way to have your pieces fly off the board when hit. This is certainly one of my sillier games!
Links
➚ Oh No, Volcano! at BoardGameGeek