Barbecubes is a tiny, fast dexterity game.
Can you get your pixelated food onto a grill without dropping anything?
Barbecubes Game Overview
Each round, a card is revealed that shows which food piece to add and where to place it. Some cards require one bar of a grill and some two.
On your turn, you pick up the indicated piece with the provided tongs and add it to the grill, nudging pieces if needed to make it fit.
If any piece falls off the grill into the coals, you take that card as a penalty. Play continues with cards being revealed and pieces added until someone collects two penalty cards.
How Do You Win?
You win by being the last player not eliminated.
Main Mechanisms
Dexterity is the main one. The tiny tongs and the different shapes of the pixel foods make each placement feel tense.
USP
I guess a dexterity game in such a small tin is unique?
Theme
A Barbecue themed on a dexterity game. Not sure that people usually take turns adding food to the thing, but there you go.
Setup
Shuffle the placement cards, open the tin to set the grill, and you’re done.
Components & Artwork
The game uses small Minecraft-style food cubes and the inside of the tin as a grill.
The art on the cards is minimal but functional.
Ease of Teaching
Reveal the card, pick up the food with tongs and place it without dropping it or knocking anything else off. Nice and simple.
Similar Games
I guess Tokyo Highway has you also placing things in a dexterity manner using tongs, so… that?
Barbecubes Review
Positives
It’s quick and a bit silly and gets people at the table laughing.
It’s small and easy to take to a game day.
Negatives
With no strategy to fall back on, bad luck of the draw can get you eliminated early.
As with any dexterity game, you can struggle if the equipment is not good for you or if you have mobility issues.
It’s in a tin.
Summary
Barbecubes is a little dexterity filler that nails portability and silly party energy, but I’d rather play a bigger, better game.
Jesta ThaRogue