Dice2Mice Magazine
Dice2Mice Reviews
November 2004
UK

Cloud 9 is the fun dice and card game in which you push your luck – and that of your opponents. Whoever holds their nerve the best will win this hugely enjoyable game. At the start of each round the players place their tokens in the basket of a balloon that is elevated above the gameboard by some clear plastic stands. It is placed on top of the first of nine clouds displayed on the board on which is also marked a points score and a number of dice. Play continues round the players with each taking a turn as the pilot of the balloon.

The pilot throws the number of dice indicated then the challenge of the game begins. The special dice have blank faces and coloured balloons that match the cards that are dealt to each player. Each of the other players in turn must decide whether the pilot has the necessary cards and stay in the basket or that they don’t and leave the basket to score the points marked on that cloud. When all have declared the pilot can either play the required cards and the balloon rises to the next level and more points or it crashes back down to the bottom, leaving everyone who was still in the basket with zero points for that round.

As the balloon rises the points on offer increases (from 1 to 25) but so do the number of dice to be rolled as the cards in players’ hands dwindle. An additional rule stating that the pilot may not jump out adds more to the decision making as the next player to be pilot has to determine not only if the current pilot can match the roll but whether they can match the next roll, often with extra dice. This often produces the hilarious mix of a cry of “Yes” when they think the roll can be matched by a louder “No” as they realize they are next to be pilot and should have jumped.

To add to the fun there are four wild cards in the pack. These are extremely powerful as a single wild card can match the requirements of any number of dice. Unlike the normal play of cards to match a dice roll, which is compulsory when possible the play of a wild card is entirely optional. This allows players to tie themselves in mental knots as they try to decide whether to stay in the balloon or not.

Whenever a balloon crashes (or less likely hits the cloud 9 and scores 25 points) a single card is dealt out to each player. This not only limits the cards, so that staying in the balloon is always a gamble, it also allows players to begin to guess and deduce what players may or may not have in their hands. If a player had failed on a red and purple last time could they make a red and yellow now? If they make that what about the purple, green and yellow that followed?

Cloud 9, although a wonderfully simple game, is enjoyable to play every single time we play it and this high flying race to 50 points is rapidly becoming a firm favorite. It’s easy to teach to others and will appeal to all but the very youngest players. It does give the impression that a few rule tweaks would create a more strategic game but why spoil what is clearly a winning formula?

Cloud 9 is highly recommended and will only increase Out of the Box’s growing reputation as a producer of excellent family fun games.

Back to Cloud 9 Reviews page