I love a good trip to the zoo and when I am there my first stop is almost always the penguins. Seeing them slide up and down and all over is a treat and one that the whole family enjoys. Today we will take on the roll of these silly creatures and see just how slick they can be as we waddle up together!
Waddle is a new game from Allplay that plays 2-5 players in 15 mins. It is designed by Corne van Moorsel with art from Daniel Profiri and Anca Gavril.
Overview:
In Waddle, players compete to score the most points by surrounding fish spaces and creating connected groups of penguins called “waddles”. Gather the most penguins in your groups to catch the best fish and you will win!
Gameplay:
To set up the game, players assemble the board using the modular hex tiles, creating a different layout each game. Fish spaces are distributed across the map with different order numbers printed on them. Each player takes a supply of penguin tokens in their chosen color, including both single and double penguin pieces. The turn order board is placed nearby along with the marbles used to track turn priority, and the score track is prepared to record points earned throughout the game.
On a player’s turn, they choose one of two actions: you can either place penguins onto the board or pass. When placing penguins, a player adds one of their penguin pieces to an available hex space following the placement restrictions outlined by the game. Double penguin tokens count as two penguins in a single space, making them useful for strengthening control of an area. Players are trying to position their penguins to claim fish by surrounding fish spaces with the most influence while also extending their presence across the map to form larger connected groups.
If a player chooses to pass instead of placing a penguin, they may improve their position in the turn order system. The game uses a marble track to determine who acts next, and passing can shift a player earlier in future turns. This creates a timing element where players must decide whether immediate board presence is more valuable than securing stronger turn order later. However, passing too often can allow opponents to claim valuable fish spaces uncontested.
Fish are scored when surrounding spaces are filled in a way that determines which player has the most penguin power around that fish. Players earn points based on the fish they claim during the game. In addition to fish scoring, players also want to create large connected groups of adjacent penguins. At the end of the game, players score points for their largest waddles, rewarding efficient expansion and connections across the board.
The game ends when players can no longer place penguins or all available pieces have been used. After final scoring for connected waddles is completed, the player with the most points wins!
Impressions:
This game is adorable and challenging in all the right ways and we loved it on our table. Because the board layout changes each game and turn order can shift throughout play, players must balance expansion, area control, and timing decisions throughout the match. This constant balance really highlights the challenges of the game.
The art and style is super cute and gives the penguins a pop that shines on the table. I love how the little guys populate the board and the fish are nice also. It looks great and draws in players with the simple and colorful style.
We taught this to some younger players who picked it up right away, with only numbers on the board there’s little to nothing to read so once a player understands the gameplay it’s easy to follow along. This is strategic enough to keep mom and dad occupied as well throughout the game.
Overall Waddle is a blast and a new addition to our collection that will be sticking around for sure. So grab your favorite penguin partners and get Waddle to the table to see how you stack up!
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