Super Snails

Slow as a snail? Not a chance! In “Super Snails,” published by the Viennese game publisher Piatnik, the colourful snails are ahead of the pack even when crawling and gliding along leaving a trail of slime all the way toward the finish line. Along the way, lucky dice rolls, individual tactics, and plenty of super food boost the pace and ensure lasting excitement even with repeated play.

With “Super Snails,” designers Tanja Malinowski and Marcus Meigel present an entertaining competition for the whole family that combines a classic racing game with a clever betting mechanism. When rolling the dice, luck and the choice of which ones to roll again are key; betting, on the other hand, requires a bit of brainpower. Players must guess how many slime symbols will ultimately appear on the four dice. If they’re correct, their super snails crawl forward.

The player whose turn it is can, with a bit of luck rolling the dice, win the right Super Food and send their snail on its way as well. Sometimes apples come in handy, while at other points along the path, blueberries or mushrooms are needed. Things move even faster with the slime symbol as a wild card: it lets even the slowest snail pick up the pace.

Thanks to the simple rules of “Super Snails,” the snails get started without much preparation and, after each roll of the dice, try to position themselves ahead of the other players. Because, of course, each of the Super Snails wants to be the first to crawl across the finish line. It stays exciting right up to the end: The Super Snail isn’t determined until the two to four players (ages 6 and up) have each had an equal number of turns.

The race featuring the cute “Super Snails,” lovingly illustrated by Olivier Fagnère, is a blast for the whole family. Each round lasts only about 15 minutes, so there’s often time for another round. With a little luck and the right bets, any snail can claim victory on the slimy trail.