Mark: So there Kat and I are, interviewing Stephan Brissaud (Senior Director of Games for Funko Games), talking Star Wars: Rivals and the newly announced Indiana Jones games, when suddenly Stephan starts talking about Indiana Jones: Something Wild! As we get into it, he mentions it’s part of a series that includes Star Wars. Needless to say, this one had slipped by Kat and myself. So, as soon as the interview concluded, both Kat and I looked at each other and we instantly knew we needed to have a closer look at it. While we wait for the Indiana Jones version, we decided it would be the perfect time to have a look at Something Wild!: Star Wars. Not only that, but I may have also purchased the Nightmare Before Christmas version as well, because my daughter (who is 6) loves that animated classic. It seemed like a win, win!
Now I say Something Wild!: Star Wars, but the copy I actually bought was Something Wild!: The Mandalorian, which comes with a mini–Baby Yoda Funko Pop (don’t tell me it’s Grogu!). There are several versions out, including a Valentine’s Star Wars Edition and another with Boba Fett. Each box comes with a mini Funko Pop that’s about the size of the Funko keychains and they actually have a purpose in game. Equally, all copies of the games are interchangeable and can be combined, which is super cool. Now I wish I could say my daughter loved Jack Skellington (she does) but in this case, it was Baby Yoda all the way. She adored that figurine!
Kat: It’s these miniature Funko that add a nice level of collectability to these games, as everyone comes with a unique figurine. What do these figures do? Well to understand that let’s talk mechanics. Something Wild plays quite a bit like rummy, a very popular card game invented by the Spanish. Each player is dealt a hand of 3 Character cards, with a draw and discard deck left in the centre of the gaming area. On a player’s turn they draw one Character card and then play any card from their hand. The aim is to make a run or a set – either three Character cards of the same colour in numerical order, or three cards of the same number.
However, there’s a catch. Power cards! This is another pile in the gameplay area, which is where the mini Funko Pop hangs out until it is in play. Each Power card has a unique ability that completely changes the gameplay, ranging from allowing a card to play as any colour, or to swap a card with another players. To be able to harness these Powers, a player has to play a Character card from their hand that is the same colour as the Power card, or with a ‘take a figure’ symbol on it. Then that player gets the Funko Pop and has the choice to use that Power for as long as they possess the figure. What did you make of this aspect of the game Mark?
Mark: This was the aspect of the game that I enjoyed most. These Powers can be incredibly useful and completely sway the game, as long as you have the cards that allow you to use them to their greatest potential – and the figurine. So, rather than just playing cards to allow you ultimately to gain a Power card, you’re looking to see if it is more advantageous to play a card that allows you to take the figurine to stop someone from using their Power card. It’s a careful balance of trying to win the game and trying to stop others from winning. Having played two different versions of the game, it was great to see that these Power cards, although similar, are different between each set. The Powers also suit the theme, so in Nightmare Before Christmas, you can score a card automatically if three of your cards make thirteen.
Even better, you can combine the decks to have two, three, or however many figurines you want roaming the game. This to me is a wonderful way of bringing children and families together, who enjoy different films and franchises. We played with Jack and Grogu, but soon we’ll be playing with Doctor Jones! I’ve been told we also need to get Ariel from The Little Mermaid! At the price point these games are at, they’re very inexpensive: you get a game and a figurine for less than ten pounds. For younger players, it’s something that is extremely affordable for them, and they get to build a figurine collection at the same time.
Kat: That’s probably the biggest advantage of Something Wild! It is so accessible. Now I played with my mom, and she picked up the game properly in a few rounds, and then promptly won three times in a row. Once the gameplay is explained, particularly the nuances of the Power cards, Something Wild is easy to play with even inexperienced gamers. This makes it great for teaching children and adults alike, plus it’s small enough to travel with and not take up much space when playing. Mark, even you got beaten by your young Padawan, didn’t you?
Mark: I did! She’s six years old, of course being raised to be a gamer, yet at her age I’m not going to play too deep a game with her. Here she was in the exact place she likes to be; she can understand the rules easily enough, visually easy to see what’s going on and there’s just enough luck to throw me off my game that she can easily seize the upper hand. Which means she can genuinely beat me and not have a victory given to her. Even with older members of a family, who aren’t particularly gamers, this is a game that is very quick to pick up. Also, it’s done and dusted in fifteen minutes, meaning attention spans are kept and you can fit a few games in at a time.
Kat: Something Wild! strikes a great balance between being visual and tactile. Moving the mini Funko Pop around is great fun, and it’s very empowering to claim it as your own. Meanwhile the artwork on the Character cards is colourful and striking, featuring actual designs of Funko Pops but with shading, weathering, though all the poses remain the same. In The Mandalorian version Moff Gideon has the Darksaber, while Bo Katan wields her shield and a blaster. It really sticks to the Funko palette and style, just in two-dimensional format.
Mark: I think what’s really wonderful with the Character cards is how cleverly they are used. For a game that crosses multiple franchises, the theme is always going to be tricky to integrate. Yet there are little nods that make you realise how much the designers have tried to incorporate it within the small space that they have. In The Mandalorian pack, there’s a power card that scores if you have a one, three and six; surely nothing too special. But then you realise that those characters are The Mandalorian, the Armourer and Bo Katan, the three Mandalorian’s found in the game. Equally, in The Nightmare Before Christmas, if you do a run, you might end up with a run of Boogie’s Boys! It’s these small details that make you smile when playing.
Kat: Funko Games: Something Wild! may have slipped under our games radar, but we’ve quickly become obsessed with this fast-paced, quick to play game. It’s great fun for families, teams, or just between 2-players, and with such a vast selection – over 30 versions – there is something to suit every taste.
Mark: When I look at my games collection, there are ones that I play with my son and my friends. Deep thinking, strategic playing. One wrong move can make you try to catch up with the other players. These are easy to find. Games that my daughter solely wants to play, that really come down to rolling a dice or spinning a spinner, are dull and leave me wanting more. The trick when you have a wide range of ages playing is something that can incorporate everyone. It needs some strategy, some luck and must be easy to pick up. Something Wild! does that in the same way games like Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza and Uno do, but with its own unique twist. My only issue – has anyone seen my Grogu? He’s gone missing from his box!?
Funko Games: Something Wild! is available in high street stores and online retailers, including Amazon UK and Amazon US.
