Designer: Spartaco Albertarelli

Artist: Paul Daviz

Publisher: Ravensburger

Instinctively, one cannot help but look at the setup of the game and think: Headbanz! The striking similarity between both games is evident in the colorful bandanas wrapped around the foreheads. In the case of Powwow, a feather is further added to headgear. The feather is cardboard and interchangeable of course. It allows all others to see the information printed on the feather except the owner. Yes, Powwow and Hanabi share a similar DNA in that information that you hold is known by others except you, but the execution is completely different. For one, Hanabi is a cooperative game while Pow-Wow is played until the last person standing wins. Overall, I would say Pow-Wow shares a stronger lineage with Liar’s Dice or Cockroach Poker than it does with Hanabi. Pow-wow is a more social bluffing game that should be loud and noisy if played right while Hanabi is usually a more serious and somber affair.

The whole objective of Pow-wow is to figure out the sum total of the individual numbers printed on each feather on the head of all players. Numbers range in the single digits all the way to 20. Of course, there are also some negative numbers thrown in. Included among the numbers are some special feathers that can double the score or force players to flip a new feather over, etc. These special feathers do spice up the game and make things a whole lot more chaotic and difficult to predict. To be honest, we have left a majority of these special feathers out of the game and played just the simple version. Each turn, the active player must either give a number that they think is lower than the sum total of all numbers or call out the previous player’s bid. Calling out the previous player literally means “I believe the number you just said is higher than the sum total of all numbers in play.” If the statement is correct, the the previous player will take a penalty point by sticking a vulture token on the velcro strip. If the statement is wrong, that means the accusing player will have to take the penalty point. A player that gets three tokens is booted from the game – yep, there is player elimination in this game. The last person standing wins the game. Easy peasy

Now, of course the whole gimmick for Pow-wow is that everyone can see all the numbers around the table except the ones on their own forehead. The goal is to then make an educated guess on your own number based on the collective wisdom. Perhaps your gut will tell you that the number is too high or too low but the it is crucial that one is able to tell who is bluffing and when. The starting player of course does not have that information and will have to guess. However, part of the fun of being a starting player is the ability to bluff and induce others to bluff accordingly. Usually, when looking around the table, I often call out a high number as a starting player even if the total is low. This makes others think that their number is high but will only work if you make every single one of them think that their number is high. This is tactically very risky, but fun to pull off but requires luck that every player buys in. There is not much else to the game but it is fun among kids and the party crowd. While we have not tried any of the special feathers, I find them sometimes a bit too complicated to explain to a casual crowd.

In summary

Pow-wow is a unique one of a kind. It is the type of game where everybody either buys in and have a blast or no one buys in and the game flops spectacularly. I have seen both. This game should never be played with stone cold analytical mindset of calculating odds or counting cards. It has to be a light-hearted, laugh-out-loud and friendly ribbing contest among friends. Preferably over some beer or wine or juice (for the kids!). This is the only acceptable way to play Pow-wow. The game works remarkably well across generations and I have had success playing with friends and family – only if the above premise is subscribed. I have not brought this out with friends who I know only enjoys heavy Euros. Pow-wow should technically be classified as a party game but I think there is something in this game that will attract your usual casual gaming crowd as well. Worth a try.

Impressions:Great with family and those who enjoy party games and a good laugh.