Rummikub Online

Summary
Create runs and sets of numbers to be the first to clear your tiles.

Description
Type: Tile Game
Platform: Android
Players: 1 - 4 players
Age: PG-13
Game Time: Up to 30 mins
Developer or Designer: Ephraim Hertzano
Publisher: Facebook

Pros


Cons

Review



Rummikub was invented by a Romanian called Ephraim Hertzano in the 1930s. It is a tile-based game that combines rummy and mahjong. Rummikub is for between two and four players, but in the online version available on Facebook you can play by yourself against a computer as well.

Each player starts off with fourteen tiles numbered 1 to 13. These tiles come in four different colours: red, orange, black, and blue. The aim is to create runs (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) in the same colour or sets (2, 2, 2, 2) in different colours, and be the first person to get rid of all their tiles. There are also two joker tiles, which can be used as any number/colour you want.



Rummikub is an excellent family game, suitable from 3 years old to centenarian, but with the online version there is a chat room and money can be spent, so I would rate it at PG-13.



Unfortunately, I think that the online version ruins all the fun of the original. While all the same rules apply, the social family aspect is completely gone, even if there is a chat function. There is also a time limit on how long you have per turn. This does mean that opponents don't have to wait too long, but it simply does not give you enough time to consider al your moves, and then place your tiles down afterwards. Many times I and my opponents were given a penalty, and missed our goes because the countdown had ended (even at the maximum length of two minutes).

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Another extremely annoying feature is the amount of self-promotion. Every time the game loads or refreshes you get a pop up asking you to buy credit or VIP access to the game; that's not to mention the unending flashing signs on the side of the screen.

There is a spin wheel to earn extra credits, but there seems to be no limit to how often you can spin, or explanation on how it works, so I have yet to figure it out.

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The only positive thing I can say about is the customisable rooms, where you can choose the setting for your game, such as the park, the beach, a bar, a casino, the drawing room, etc. That's hardly enough to keep my interest though.

Categories
#numbers
#puzzle
#tablet
#android
#download
#free
#tile_game
#2_players
#1_player
#3_players
#4_players

%giventogaming