Boop Game Board Game Review
boop is a two-player abstract strategy game designed by Scott Brady and published by Smirk & Dagger Games in 2022. It pairs an adorable cat theme with surprisingly sharp tactical gameplay on a 6×6 quilted bed board. The game supports exactly 2 players, carries an age rating of 10+, and finishes in 20 to 30 minutes. It won the 2023 Mensa Select award and the Origins 2023 Game of the Year. This review covers how boop plays, what you get in the box, and whether it belongs on your shelf.
boop Game Overview
boop is a retheme of Scott Brady’s earlier self-published design called Gekitai. The core idea is simple: place a kitten on a shared grid, and it pushes all adjacent pieces one space away. That pushing action is the “boop,” and it creates a spatial puzzle where every placement ripples across the board.
Your goal splits into two phases. First, line up three of your kittens in a row to graduate them into larger cat pieces. Then line up three cats in a row to win. Alternatively, if you manage to get all eight of your cats onto the bed at once, you also win.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Scott Brady |
| Publisher | Smirk & Dagger Games (Smirk & Laughter imprint) |
| Year Released | 2022 |
| Players | 2 |
| Age Range | 10+ |
| Playing Time | 20–30 minutes |
| Game Type | Abstract Strategy |
| Complexity Rating | 1.68 / 5 (Light) |
What’s in the boop Box?
The box itself is part of the game. Flip it upside down, lay the quilted fabric board on top, and you’ve got a miniature bed for your cats to sit on. It’s a clever piece of design that gives boop a distinct table presence.
| Component | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden kitten meeples | 16 (8 per player) | Smaller pieces with printed faces and details |
| Wooden cat meeples | 16 (8 per player) | Larger pieces, same colour as matching kittens |
| Quilted fabric board | 1 | 6×6 grid, sits on the inverted box |
| Game box / bed frame | 1 | Doubles as the board support |
| Rulebook | 1 | Short, clear instructions |
The wooden meeples are thick enough to stand on the soft quilted surface without tipping. The fabric board is the standout component here. It would be easy for a publisher to use a cardboard tile instead, but the quilted material adds a tactile quality that makes placing pieces feel satisfying. Both player colours feature different cat markings, which is a nice touch.
boop Pros and Cons
- The boop mechanic creates a puzzle where every placement shifts the board state, keeping turns tense from start to finish.
- The two-phase structure (kittens to cats) adds a layer of progression that pure abstract strategy games often lack.
- Rules take about two minutes to explain. New players can start immediately.
- Zero luck. The better strategist wins every game.
- The quilted board, wooden meeples, and box-as-bed design give boop strong production quality for its price.
- Quick playtime encourages rematches. Most sessions turn into three or four games back to back.
- The cute cat theme can give the wrong impression. Some players expecting a light family game may find the strategy sharper than anticipated.
- Strictly two players. No solo variant, no team mode, no way to include a third person.
- Experienced players can dominate newcomers, and the lack of any randomness means there’s no catch-up mechanism.
- The quilted board, while attractive, wrinkles slightly during play and can shift if bumped.
How to Play boop
Setup
Remove all components from the box. Flip the box bottom upside down and place the quilted board on top. Each player takes their 8 kittens. The 8 cat pieces for each player sit nearby in reserve. Pick who goes first.
Turn Structure
On your turn, place one of your available pieces (kitten or cat) onto any empty space on the 6×6 grid. The moment you place it, it boops every adjacent piece one space away in a straight line. This includes pieces diagonally adjacent. Booping happens in all eight directions simultaneously.
There are a few restrictions. A boop doesn’t cause a chain reaction; only the piece you place does the pushing. If the space behind an adjacent piece is occupied, that piece doesn’t move. If a piece gets pushed off the edge of the board, it returns to that player’s supply.
A critical distinction: kittens cannot boop cats. Only other cats can push a cat. This asymmetry between the two piece types is where most of the game’s strategy lives.
Graduating Kittens
When you form a line of three of your pieces in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) and at least one of them is a kitten, those three pieces are removed from the board. Any kittens in the line are discarded and replaced with cats in your reserve. Any cats already in the line simply return to your supply.
Winning boop
You win by lining up three of your cats in a row. Alternatively, if all eight of your cats are on the board at the same time, you win immediately.
Where to Buy boop
boop is available from several retailers. Prices vary depending on the edition and seller.
| Product | Retailer | Price |
|---|---|---|
| boop (Standard Edition) | Ubuy India | ₹3,279.00 |
| boop (Standard Edition) | BoardGamesNMore | ₹2,849.54 |
| boop the Halls! (Holiday Edition) | BoardGamesNMore | ₹2,578.09 |
| BOOoop! (Halloween Edition) | Desertcart India | ₹5,770.00 |
| boop (Standard Edition) | Bored Game Company | ₹3,879.00 |
| boop (Standard Edition) | Gameistry | ₹3,100.00 |
Stock fluctuates with Indian retailers, so check availability before ordering. The standard edition on Amazon US typically runs around $25.
boop Game Mechanics Explained
boop is built on a single core mechanic: displacement. Every piece you place pushes adjacent pieces one space away. That’s it. But from that one rule, the entire game’s depth unfolds.
The displacement mechanic means the board state changes every single turn, often in ways neither player fully expects. You might place a kitten to push your opponent’s piece off the edge, only to accidentally line up two of their remaining kittens next to each other. Reading three or four turns ahead becomes necessary at higher skill levels, similar to games like Chess or Blokus.
The kitten-to-cat graduation system adds a second layer. You can’t win with kittens alone; you need to form lines, remove those kittens, and bring back stronger pieces. This creates a natural arc to each game. Early turns feel open and exploratory. Mid-game tightens as players start placing cats that can’t be pushed by smaller pieces. Late-game often comes down to a single placement deciding the winner.
The fact that cats are immune to kitten boops creates a positional advantage. A well-placed cat anchors your formation while your kittens get shoved around. But your opponent’s cats can still boop yours, so no position is ever truly safe.
Who Should Play boop?
boop fits couples and two-player households looking for a quick, replayable game. If you and a partner regularly play two-player board games, boop earns regular rotation alongside titles like Hive, Patchwork, and 7 Wonders Duel.
Abstract strategy fans will appreciate the zero-luck design. If you like Chess, Go, or Shobu, boop offers a similar feel in a much shorter time frame. The cat theme doesn’t interfere with the strategy at all; it just makes the game more approachable for reluctant players.
Families with older children (10+) can enjoy boop, though younger kids may struggle with reading the board state multiple moves ahead. It works well as a gateway into strategy games for people who normally avoid anything that looks “too serious.”
Skip boop if you want games for more than two players, if you prefer games with some randomness to level the playing field, or if you find pure abstract strategy too dry. The cat theme softens the experience, but at its core, this is a skill-based contest where the better player wins.
boop Editions and Digital Version
Beyond the standard edition, Smirk & Dagger has released two themed variants. boop the Halls! swaps the flat bed for a 3D Christmas tree board with four tiers. Cats can be booped up and down the tree, and ornaments add an alternative win condition. The 3D tree looks great on a table but can make it harder to see the opposite side of the board.
BOOoop! is the Halloween edition featuring ghost cats with a different movement variant. Both themed versions use the same core boop mechanic with added twists.
Boop World is a mobile app available on Google Play. It includes AI opponents, online multiplayer, and unlockable cat-kitten combinations for players who want boop on the go.
FAQ
Is boop good for beginners?
Yes. The rules take about two minutes to learn, and the cat theme makes it approachable for people who wouldn’t normally pick up an abstract strategy game. That said, experienced players will have an advantage over newcomers since there’s no luck involved. Expect the first few games to be learning experiences.
How long does boop take to play?
Most games finish in 15 to 30 minutes. Beginners tend to play slower, sometimes pushing toward 30 minutes. Two experienced players can finish in 15 minutes or less. Games between evenly-matched skilled players sometimes take longer as both sides play defensively.
What’s the best player count for boop?
boop is strictly a two-player game. There are no solo rules, team variants, or ways to accommodate a third player. If you need games for larger groups, look elsewhere. For exactly two players, boop is one of the better options in the abstract strategy space.
Is boop worth buying?
At around $25 for the standard edition, boop offers strong value. The production quality with the wooden meeples and quilted board exceeds most games in that price range. If you regularly play two-player games and enjoy skill-based competition, boop is an easy recommendation.
What games are similar to boop?
Shobu is the closest comparison; Smirk & Dagger considers boop a spiritual successor. Hive shares the two-player abstract strategy feel with different mechanics. Patchwork is another popular two-player option, though it’s more puzzle than strategy. For a lighter spatial game, Blokus offers territory control with a similar accessibility level.
