Toppling towers in Beasts of Balance is a genius blend of old and new

A tower of precariously placed objects presents a classic board game conundrum. Jenga is the famous example, but many others also put dexterity to the test as players build and deconstruct towers until they inevitably fall over. Beasts of Balance uses that foundation to make something new: a cooperative (or competitive) building game designed around a companion tablet app and RFID reading pedestal. The result is engaging at just about any age.

Playing the game is simple: Just grab an artifact (as the game’s pieces are called), scan it on the plinth, and add it to the tower. You can choose from polygonal beasts like eagles and octopi, point juicing elements, or maybe a “cross” piece that combines the points and DNA of two beasts in play. The tablet app helpfully illustrates this by showing you the “hawktopus” you’ve just created, adding it to your compendium of crossbred creatures.

The app works almost seamlessly and we only encountered a few hiccups getting pieces to scan. Most of the time the app integrates well into the experience, tracking your score, showing off your chimeric critters, and even adding additional building challenges. For example, you might need to keep one finger on the app while you place your artifact with your other hand (for extra points, of course).

The most thoughtful designs in the game are the artifacts, which are designed to be stacked, hung, and yes, balanced on top of each other. The animal pieces are especially fun to handle, with striking angles and soft-touch plastic. Even without the added gameplay elements of the app, the simple act of stacking pieces is immensely satisfying.

The game can be played cooperatively, with everyone taking turns selecting artifacts and adding them to the tower. If the tower falls, players have a short time to put it back together before the game ends. Alternatively, players can go head-to-head, swiping each others’ beasts or even making them go extinct.

You can see how both modes work in our Let’s Play at the top of this post. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out the rest of our show Overboard on our YouTube channel!