During the Spring, we did an episode of The Game Chat centered around the topic of dexterity games. I was shocked at the number of dexterity games that I wanted to talk about after taking a look at our game shelves. During the live show, someone mentioned Biñho Boards, a soccer dexterity game that I’d never heard of before. Once you know about the game of Biñho, there’s no going back.
Welcome to the Pitch
During Origins this Summer, we met the team behind Biñho and I got to experience the game first hand. In this flicking focused soccer game, players are trying to be the first to score 7 goals against their opponent. Players go back and forth, flicking the marble like ball across the field while 10 metal pins stand at opposite ends of the field.
These pins are your defenders who keep your opponent from launching the ball directly into the goal. Biñho relies on players trying different angles similar to billiards or pool. Banking a shot off the elastic bands or off the edge of a defender is incredibly satisfying.
Once you know the basics, a little practice will have you shooting like a pro. Each player has their preferred way of flicking the ball whether with a single finger, double finger or sweeping motion. In my 80+ games of Biñho, I’ve learned that a focused shot is far more valuable then trying to flick the ball as hard as possible.
Red Card
Like in any sport, penalties will occur and some are more egregious than others. Biñho has a penalty system that deals yellow and red cards based on the infractions. Players are penalized for double tapping the ball, kicking the ball out of the play area, touching the crossbar of their own goal, moving the board during a kick, and a couple others. Players earn a yellow card if the infraction happens in the open field and a red card if it takes place in the box in front of the goal. The yellow card is a warning and a second yellow card equals a red card.
Getting a yellow card will give the ball to your opponent to shoot from the center of the field. The red card however is far more brutal. The offending player will call “red” or “yellow” and the opposing player will flip a Biñho poker chip. If the offending player chooses correctly, they will decide on which defender pin gets removed on their side of the field. If they choose incorrectly, the opposing player gets to decide which defender pin gets removed.
These defender pins are a line of defense, keeping the ball out of your goal. Losing a defender will make you more vulnerable and open new paths for scoring. As players get more comfortable with the game, these penalties become more rare during the game.
Is Flicking a Sport?
Biñho is a really dynamic game. In my first full game, I got wrecked with a score of 7 to 2. There’s a rhythm to this game that becomes second nature as you play more often. Scoring an incredible and unlikely goal during a game will literally get players out of their seat and cheering.
While Biñho is built on the game of soccer, I’m actually not a soccer fan. I played soccer in my youth but moved on to other sports in my late teens. Biñho is an easy sell for soccer fans. What I’m impressed with is how many people connect with this game, even though they’re not fans of the sport.
At it’s core, Biñho is an engaging and accessible dexterity game like Crokinole or Klask. These are games that immediately draw players in because of their table presence and competitive nature. Biñho draws players in because it’s a soccer field that fits on just about any table you have. It’s not uncommon to have a crowd of people standing around a board as two players put all their concentration on scoring their next goal.
Price and Customizations
After owning a Biñho board for about 6 weeks, it’s easily the most played game in our home. Most matches last around 15 minutes and we usually play a best of three series while the game is on the table. A Biñho board starts at $90 which may sound steep, especially if you haven’t played the game before.
Earlier, I compared the game of Biñho to Crokinole, another game that’s an investment financially. Last year we purchased a Crokinole board for our family and haven’t looked back. Owning a Biñho board is similar, but is more affordable than a Crokinole board. Purchasing a board is an investment and you’re paying for a quality board that’s going to be around for years.
Biñho boards can be upgraded and customized based on what you’re willing to spend on the game. At the time of this review, the classic black board is $90 and the green turf board is slightly more expensive. Both games come with everything you need to play without any additional cost. You can further customize your board with different color bands, cloth nets, printed soccer balls, colored defender pins or even get a custom printed board.
The company has licensing deals with different International and MLS teams. You can purchase a themed board for your favorite team or just customize a basic board with your favorite colors like we’ve done.
Final Thoughts
Our board has seen almost 200 games at the time of this review. The print has held up really well with a bit of wear at the center of the field, where every game starts. Biñho boards come in two field types. The black, low-profile field seems to hold the print really well. The higher profile green turf isn’t as crisp which makes sense because of the field texture. On our board, the score tracking numbers on one side of the field is not as crisp and the 5, 6 and 7 numbers are “fuzzy”.
Biñho is one of the most impressive games we’ve played this year. We have a couple friends who have already purchased their own boards. We’re currently only a couple weeks away from starting a weekly Biñho league in our city. This is a game that’s very accessible but has the nuance of classic games like pool and Crokinole.
It would be easy to say “I’m not a fan of soccer, so it’s not for me”. I would challenge you to play a couple games and revisit that thought. While I’m not a fan of the sport, I’m a huge fan of Biñho and the fast-paced fun that it brings to the table.
You can purchase a Biñho board directly from the company. Use this link to take 10% off your order when purchasing.
This game was provided to us by the publisher for review. Read more about our review policies at One Board Family.
Highs
- Penalties and game structure inspired by soccer
- Fantastic head-to-head dexterity experience
- Sinking an almost impossible goal feels so good
- Lots of ways to customize for a cost
Lows
- Boards are costly and an investment
- Green turf prints are not as crisp
Complexity
Time Commitment
Replayability
