Camel Up Review
Right. Gather round. What we have here is not a serious simulation of Middle Eastern commerce. It is not an elegant mathematical puzzle about crop rotation. It is, quite literally, a game where you bet on camels running in circles. And it is utterly, fabulously chaotic.
Welcome to Camel Up—designed by Steffen Bogen and published by Eggertspiele. Or, as the box art notoriously makes it look, "Camel Cup." Even the name is confused! But the moment you assemble the magnificent, ludicrous pyramid dice-shaker, you simply will not care. The premise is brilliantly simple: Camels go round a track, and you bet on who wins. But here is the magnificent twist: they stack.
The Stacking Shambles
They literally ride on each other's backs! You might bet your entire life savings on the green camel, only for it to land on top of the blue camel, which is then carried backwards by the yellow camel because someone dropped a mirage tile on the track. It is the board gaming equivalent of a multi-car pileup, and it is hilarious.
The sheer tension of pressing the button on the pyramid shaker, waiting to see which die drops out, is enough to give you a mild cardiac event. It’s like a slot machine made of cardboard and wood, only it’s much more likely to make you scream at your friends. The stacking mechanic guarantees that there is no such thing as a "safe bet." The camel in last place can literally hitch a ride to first place in a single turn, destroying every mathematical model your "serious" gamer friends have built.
Suitability: Family vs. Friends
Family Sessions
Is it suitable for a family session? Absolutely! It is designed exactly for this. The rules take about three minutes to explain, mostly because everyone inherently understands the concept of gambling on farm animals. Your grandfather will likely end up cheering at a piece of wood, and your children will find the stacking camels funnier than a clown in a washing machine.
Hard-core Gamers
But what about a session with hard-core gamer friends? You might think they'd turn their noses up at something so entirely reliant on the luck of the dice. But the moment the race starts, all their grand strategic posturing will evaporate. They will be screaming at a yellow plastic camel to move two spaces just so they can claim a five-pound payout. It reduces everyone to degenerate gamblers within ten minutes. It is the perfect antidote to a long night of spreadsheets and misery.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
The pyramid shaker is a wildly satisfying contraption. | It is pure, unadulterated chaos; control is an illusion. |
The stacking mechanic keeps every single bet tense. | The "Camel Cup" typography debate will haunt you forever. |
Accommodates up to 8 players; perfect for riots. | Sometimes the die refuses to drop from the pyramid. |
Final Thoughts
Camel Up is a riot in a box. It is fast, it is loud, and it is utterly, brilliantly stupid. It is the most fun you can have with camels without being banned from a zoo. If you want a game that will make people laugh until they cry, this is it.
Final Verdict: Buy it yourself! If you enjoy laughing until your chest hurts and screaming at inanimate wooden mammals, there is absolutely no logic in avoiding this game. Buy it, invite seven friends over, and let the chaos commence!
