Stamp Swap
- Players
- 1-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 60 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2024
About the game
Stamp Swap has players drafting from a shared pool of face-down and face-up tiles and bonus cards representing rare stamps, then simultaneously splitting their haul into two groups to trade with another player. Each round you'll pick another player's leftover group while keeping the portion of your own split that wasn't chosen, gradually assembling a themed stamp collection. Along the way you organize your growing collection and score against one of four available goals, though each goal can only be scored once per game. With gold-foil rare stamps to chase and a three-round structure for 1-5 players, it's a quick, clever set-collection puzzle from designer Paul Salomon.
Hobbli's Notes
Stamp Swap's simultaneous split-and-trade drafting mechanism is a neat little twist on set collection; deciding how to divide your tiles so the leftover group is still tempting enough to trade away is a fun puzzle. Paul Salomon's pedigree (Honey Buzz, Genotype) shows in the tight, well-tuned goal-scoring structure. It's a shorter, lighter design than his bigger titles, so fans expecting a heavier game may be surprised by how quick it plays.
What we like
- Clever simultaneous split-and-trade drafting mechanism.
- Four scoreable goals per game encourage focused strategy.
- Attractive gold-foil stamps add a satisfying collection element.
- Short three-round structure keeps playtime brisk.
Keep in mind
- Each goal can only be scored once, which can create tense goal-grabbing.
- Lighter weight may underwhelm fans of the designer's heavier games.
- Relatively new release with limited long-term community feedback.
Who it's for
Good for casual-to-mid-weight gamers ages 12+ who enjoy set collection and drafting, in groups of 1-5.
