Poo Poo Pets

Poo Poo Pets feels like a real-time version of Jungle Speed, except that instead of elegance it has dice and a giant whistling poop. I assume somebody tried to “improve” Project Elite, or real-time dice rollers in general, and arrived at a concept that seems to exist mainly as raw material for stand-up comedians. Yes, I sound biased. The game does not do much to prove me wrong.

At its core, players act in real time, rolling dice and reacting quickly to what is happening on the table. The idea recalls the tense, immediate energy of a dexterity game like Jungle Speed, only moved into a chaotic dice-rolling scene.

The interaction comes through that rush and, naturally, through the central plastic attraction: the whistling poop that younger players enjoy smacking. I did not find the official framework convincing enough, so I resorted to the eternal salvation of family games: “this is how we play it”™. With my own rules, the dice became the basis for a respectable Yahtzee clone.

Thankfully, the dice really are very nice, and that is enough to keep the thing alive for young children who enjoy bashing a plastic poop that whistles. It will keep us company on holiday until the centerpiece gets lost and we can have some peace. Otherwise, tremble, October trippers. OK boomer.