To be quite honest, I pretty much always think about that song from The Lion King 1 1/2  whenever I think about digging or tunnels … but anyway, I digress … *Achem*

Do you ever wonder what treasures or secrets hide beneath the surface? Then you’re in luck! We’re going on a digging adventure, and there could just be water or oil, but there might be emeralds, or coins, or even fossils! We won’t know until we dig! So grab your shovels and get ready for a Big Dig!

Let’s check it out …

What Is It?

Basically a “take and write” game – you take turns drafting dig cards and filling in the corresponding shapes on your board. If you don’t like your options, you can instead explode a single square on your board, which can be helpful in getting pesky rocks out of your way. Players want to be the first to complete all 3 goal cards in order to win the game!

Who Is It For?

It’s definitely a light game, so kids and/or families would likely enjoy this one; the box says ages 8+ and I’d say that’s perfectly accurate.

Those who like roll and writes and all that falls under that category will probably find this a great addition to their collection. It reminded me a little of Tag City, for anyone familiar with that one, but it does have a uniqueness from that.

Contents and Quality

Boards/Markers – The boards are nice, solid, and everything is easy to distinguish. They’re also double-sided for a little variety. The markers write nicely, the only downfall here is no erasers on them, or included in the box.

Cards – Mini sized cards of average quality. They get the job done.

Rules/Box – The rules are very easy to to read through, and everything is laid out well! It’s a small box game and it fits everything perfectly. Only issues with the box are that you might not be able to find other markers that fit easily inside once the ones the game came with dry out, and my box lid is very tight to the bottom, that it’s difficult to open it. Not sure if that’s universal, but hopefully not.

PROS

  • Quick and simple
  • Feels very thematic
  • Dry Erase – no wasteful pages
  • Small and easily portable
  • Aesthetically appealing
  • “Advanced” rules help improve the game’s balance

CONS

  • Tight box lid
  • There seemed to be a heavy 1st player advantage, but it could also merely be coincidence
  • In 2 players you always get first pick of the same side of the dig cards, which also can feel a little unbalanced

Difficulty

I’d definitely rate this low for difficulty, probably a 2/5. It’s easy to learn, teach, and play, and I think anyone would be able to handle it, even if they’re a non-gamer, or just a kid! There’s light strategy in what shape to take, or when to explode, but it’s a great introductory game that’s fast to catch on to.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this game was a ton of fun! It felt like a game I’d always want to pull out if I just needed something quick for a filler or at the end of a game night when we only have 20 minutes to play something.

I would absolutely recommend to always play with the “advanced” rules – all players but the first get to fill in a number of boxes before the game starts – because there’s really no reason not to.

If you like roll/flip/take/do-and-write games, this is a great one to add to your collection!

My Final Rating: 8/10

Additional Information:
Designers –  Shaun Graham, Scott Huntington
Artist –  Nate Call, Katie Welch
Publisher – Tasty Minstrel Games (TMG)
BGG
BGA

*I was provided a copy of this game to do this review*

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