GUBS is set in a fictional world where tiny brown Gubs (think homely, slightly insane Smurfs) live in toadstool villages, constantly wary of flash floods and wasp attacks. The Gubs have a love of shiny gold rings, such a love in fact that when they see one, they grab on and rarely let go.

The game is designed for 2-6 players ages 10 and up, and lasts about 20 minutes. The basic gameplay is simple: Each player begins with one Gub in front of them (called a free Gub) and three cards in their hand. Players take turns laying Gubs in front of them, playing hazards and traps(which can remove an opponent’s Gubs from play), stealing Gubs from other players or playing cards to protect or free their own imperiled Gubs. Interrupt cards can be used to prevent another card from taking effect.

Scattered through the deck are three letter cards: G,U and B. Any letter card drawn is played immediately, and once all three are played, the game ends. Players score points for free and protected Gubs in front of them. Trapped Gubs and Gubs in their hand do not count. The highest score wins.

This is a fast card game, with a lot of randomness but also a good dose of strategy, as almost all cards have some way of being countered. The more players at the table, the more frantic the game becomes, and in my opinion, the more fun. Once players get used to how the different kinds of cards work, the gameplay starts to move faster, which also adds to the fun and chaos of the game.

The artwork is great, the Gubs are absolutely adorable, and the flavor text on the cards does a really good job of introducing this tiny, magical setting. After seeing the cards and playing the game, I was left wanting more of the Gubs story. I spoke to Medeiros online about any games planned for the future, and he said future games were being planned. Don’t expect them too soon, however, as Medeiros said he wants to make sure any game using Gubs is top-notch before going out to players. I can respect that.

In the meantime, GUBS is a great, funny little card game that is a lot of fun to play and makes for great filler or a lighter card game session. For more information on the game or to view a video tutorial, visit www.gubcards.com. For more game reviews and discussion, visit my blog at http://merb101.livejournal.com.