Is Mad Gab fun?

Question

I'm thinking of getting the board game Mad Gab... Should i get it, and if not, then which should i get?

Answer 1

I've owned it and played it, but I don't care for it.

In my experience I can get the name/phrase on the first read-through, without the "hilarium" that is supposed to come when a team can't figure out an answer. Perhaps it has something to do with the way that I hear language, but since I can hear the answers right off, the game is left lacking.

Now, on the counterpoint, a good gaming friend of mine has and plays the game and loves it. He says that when he plays, the game works correctly, and a good time is had by most.

Your mileage may vary, but I would look to get this on the second-hand market if you can, just so you don't sink $30 into a game in case you don't like it.

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If you do opt not to get Mad Gab, and are looking for a party game for several -- I've had great experience with:

Catch-Phrase -- This one takes at least four players, works better with six, and still works up to ten or twenty players. It's a game of hot potato where a player (the reader) is trying to get his or her team to guess what is on the screen (kinda like Taboo, but with no Taboo words). When the team gets the answer, the reader throws the device over to the reader for the other team. The goal is to not be the team holding the device when the timer goes off. My party groups can while away hours playing this one.

Smarty-Party -- A game of semi-general knowledge. Basically, a player reads a category off of a card, and the other players, in turn order, are trying to give answers that are on the card. Each time a player gets the right answer, he or she takes the "Smarty Pants", but when a player answers incorrectly, that player has to take a penalty chip with a number on it. The round is over when all the penalty chips have been taken, or all of the answers on the card have been given. Then each player moves the the total of their penalty chips -- except the player who is still holding the Smarty Pants gets to ignore one of his or her penalty chips. The added bonus is that the player who is doing the worst (i.e. most advanced on the track) reads the next card -- and he or she places a bet as to whether the group will get a certain number of responses. If the group makes the goal, the reader gets to move back one space. I've played this one a lot, lots of fun.

Wits and Wagers -- I've warmed up to this one lately. Basically there are seven rounds, in which the group is asked a trivia question with a numerical answer. Each player writes down on his or her card what they think the answer is. All players reveal their answers, and they are placed on the betting track -- the median answer has the lowest odds, and higher and lower answers have greater odds (e.g. 2 to 1, 3 to 1, etc) Then each player bids on what answer they think is correct. The reader reads the correct answer, and the players who bid on the answer that was closest without going over get paid out on their bids, times the odds of their bid. Additionally, the player who supplied the closest answer gets a bonus. The answers are fun trivia that one could know, but is unlikely anyone will know the exact answer like "How many elevators are in the Empire State Building" or "What percentage of a watermelon is water?"

Answer 2

1. A practical joke. 2. Ride out the storm. 3. Ball of fire. 4. Apple juice. 5. I need a receipt?

Answer 3

yes.

Answer 4

no