Munchkin - the kid with the level 43 magic-user who teleported a nuclear bomb from the future into a role playing game.

Munchkin played with close adherence to the rules can be a well balanced, thoughtful game.

But you'd be doing it wrong.


Gameplay:

Munchkin is a card game where is player has a hand of cards. Each turn they potentially face off against a monster with its strength and special abilities versus the munchkin's level, gear, single use cards. Other players can hop into each of these fights on either (or even both) sides of the battle.

But that would be over analyzing it.

Played right:

Munchkin is a game poking fun at the monty haul style of role playing typically enjoyed by munchkins. It's ok to play like them so long as we're making fun of them, right? right?! Of course it is.

This game should be played with the exact same backstabiness of Diplomacy only with a lot more laughter.

In the course of a game you may have cause to cast a curse on an opponent. That curse may be "Chicken on your head". This should not require long thought to gain insight into the tactical advantage of which opponent should receive this curse and when. You should look at your opponents and decide which of them needs a chicken on their head. You then slap the card onto their tableau and shout, "you have a chicken on your head!"



Rules lawyers need not apply:

Now an astute rules lawyer might point out that nowhere on the Chicken on Your Head card does it say that the afflicted person is required to do the chicken dance or strut and cluck like a chicken. The game, however has that eventuality covered! There is one catchall rule that says upon any disagreement with the rules a majority vote can be used to clarify a rule. Dance chickenboy, dance.


Summary:

If you enjoy a silly game and can take pride in dispatching someone with a "Sneaky Bastard Sword", if you named your D&D cleric "Bob the Cleric", if you don't mind sophomoric humor but revel in it, then this will be a rewarding game.

People desiring a serious game or who play to win at all costs should probably give this one a pass.