Alright, friends, time to roll out my review of Ohio—the board game that recently took over my kitchen table (and almost wrecked my friendships, in the best possible way). If you’re after a game with wild decisions, unpredictable laughs, and maybe a little chaos, you’ve come to the right place. Let me tell you what happened when my friends and I put this quirky gem through its paces!
How It Plays
Setting up
Shuffle the Ohio deck and deal an equal number of cards to each player. Put the rest in a draw pile in the middle. Sort out the wacky tokens (they really set the mood). Everyone grabs a reference card if you’re as forgetful as me.
Gameplay
Play happens in quick turns. On your turn, play a card from your hand. Follow the silly action on the card (move tokens, swap hands, sometimes moo like a cow—yes, really). After your action, draw a card from the pile. If you run out, too bad—watch the chaos from the sidelines like a retired Ohio farmer.
Winning the game
The game ends when the draw pile is empty and someone plays their last card. Count up points on your cards and tokens. The person with the most points, and least amount of popcorn in their beard, wins and gets to yell “OHIO!” at the group.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Ohio.
Theme and First Impressions: Welcome to Ohio, But Not As You Know It
When I first plonked the box of “ohio” onto my table, my friend Dave asked, “Is this the one with cows, cornfields, or angry football fans?” Well, the answer is… kind of none of the above. Ohio, the board game, is a strange beast. The box art gives off retro vibes, like someone found clipart from 1993 and said, “Perfect! Ship it.” The colors are so bold you’d think Ohio invented highlighters. Not a cow or cornstalk in sight, but I did spot a suspiciously cheerful golden retriever on the rulebook cover.
First impression when opening the box? Confusion, but in a good way. There’s a board with a map that sort of looks like Ohio, or maybe a potato. Tokens shaped like tiny suitcases spill everywhere. The meeples look like little tourists ready for a trip to a place famous for… something. Our group started guessing what the game could be about. Will we build highways? Hunt for the world’s best chili? Declare lifelong loyalty to a college football team? My friend Kelly thought maybe it was all three.
The rules are printed on a folded sheet that somehow manages to be both clear and full of dad jokes. My eyebrows got a workout from rising so much. The theme could be more focused, but the goofy charm wins you over. “Ohio” gives you light-hearted Midwest spirit but never takes itself too seriously. Perfect for a night when you want to laugh and not think too hard about why you’re moving plastic cars around a cartoon potato.
Speaking of cars, let’s see if this game drives well or just stalls at the start line—next up, let’s talk gameplay mechanics and flow!
How Does Ohio Actually Play? Let’s Talk Gameplay!
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get into the meat and potatoes of Ohio: the gameplay! I wrangled four pals together one Friday night—these folks have seen it all, from Monopoly meltdowns to the Diplomacy disaster of 2022—so I figured we were ready for anything this game could throw at us. Turns out, Ohio’s gameplay is simple, but it still brings in a few twists.
On your turn, you pick a card from your hand and slam it down with gusto. Each card sports oddball actions, like “Make your best Ohio accent” or “Swap hands with the player eating the most snacks.” (Pro tip: Play with hungry people for extra chaos.) The flow is fast, since you just do what your card says, then cackle as your friends struggle with tasks like balancing a meeple on their nose. Every round, something unexpected happens, usually at my expense. (Why do I always get stuck mooing like a cow?)
There’s not a ton of downtime between turns, since no one gets bogged down in overthinking strategy—probably because there isn’t much! This keeps everyone laughing and moving, which in my book, is a big plus for party games. If you play with the right group, you’ll move from start to finish in under 30 minutes. High five if you manage to keep a straight face the whole time.
But is Ohio fair and balanced, or will it leave you feeling like you’ve played pin the tail on the donkey in a tornado? That’s up next, and I promise, things might get messy…
Balance and Fairness in Ohio: Where Cornfields Meet Cards
Alright, so let’s cut straight to the kernel (see what I did there?). Balance and fairness are the bread and butter of any board game session in my group. If a game gives one player an edge just because they’re sitting closest to the pretzel bowl, we notice. With Ohio, I paid close attention with every round—because nothing ruins a game night quicker than a runaway leader or a sore loser grumbling about luck.
At first blush, Ohio seems fair as apple pie. The rules are simple, everyone starts at the same spot, and choices feel open. But after a few rounds—especially after my cousin Rhonda launched three cows into the river and scored a surprise victory—I realized there’s a bit of wildness afoot. The special cards you can draw add some spicy twists. Sometimes, a card helps you, but every now and then, one player seems to get all the good stuff while I’m left with a whole lot of nothing. Is it rigged? Nah. But it sure felt that way when I had two turns with zero workable options while everyone else toured the board like it was their birthday.
The good news: nobody gets stuck for long. The game’s pacing and the chance to flip the script keep things from feeling outright mean or broken. Still, if you’re someone who wants pure strategy, Ohio might leave you feeling a bit… on the hay bale. If you’re okay with just a smidge of unpredictable, this is fair enough for casual nights but maybe not for hardcore bragging rights.
Now that we’ve wrangled fairness, let’s mosey on down to the barn dance called Replayability and Player Interaction—grab your hat, because this next section is where friendships get tested!
Ohio: Does It Stand the Test of Time and Table Talk?
So, you’ve lassoed your friends into playing Ohio for the fifth time in one night. Does anyone feel like they’ve seen it all, or is there fresh chaos each round? Surprisingly, this game has legs—skinny weird legs, but legs! The random setup of cards and actions means nobody (not even your most annoying board game know-it-all) can predict every round.
I love that you can play Ohio with both big groups and your two best buddies. The player interaction? Oh wow, it’s a recipe for shouting, plotting, then apologizing for shouting. If you’re after subtle diplomacy, forget it. If you like cackling as you block your sister’s biggest move, this is your jam.
Here’s something I didn’t expect: my friend Dave, who usually hates repeating games, wanted to go again—twice. That’s rare enough to make me double-check for hidden cameras. The game twists your group dynamic in new directions every session. Still, if you need a heavy strategy game to keep your brain sweaty and your soul slightly crushed, Ohio might seem shallow after ten plays. The randomness that keeps things fresh can also wear thin for planners.
My verdict? Ohio feels like party dip: not something you want for every meal, but always a welcome treat when friends are around. I’d recommend it for silly nights and family gatherings. Just don’t blame me when Aunt Carol starts her victory dance.
Conclusion
After way too many rounds yelling “Ohio!” at my kitchen table, I can say this game brings easy laughs and light chaos to any group. The art and theme tickled my retro bone, and the rules didn’t take ages to learn. If you like games that are more about goofing off than big brain moves, you’ll feel right at home. But, if you crave tight strategy and hate luck messing with your plans, Ohio might leave you cold (or flipping the table). For my gang, it kept us coming back for another silly go, but it won’t scratch the itch for deep, tactical play. Thanks for sticking with my review—now go see if Ohio makes your game night more bonkers!
