Hoopla Mania: The Ultimate Cranium Challenge Review

Cranium, the beloved party board game, has been entertaining game night enthusiasts for several decades. Its continued popularity has resulted in numerous spin-off games, one of which is the highly sought-after Cranium Hoopla. To mark Cranium's 25th anniversary, a new version of this popular card game has been released.

Unlike the original Cranium, which is a combination of a card game and board game, Cranium Hoopla is solely a card game. The market for card games has exploded since the rise of Cards Against Humanity, inundating party game shelves with countless clones. However, Cranium Hoopla offers a refreshing and unique card game experience that stands out from the crowd.

Unlike other party games, Cranium Hoopla offers a unique cooperative experience that requires players to work together in completing challenges. Drawing inspiration from the core Cranium game, the team-oriented gameplay removes the board and focuses solely on the challenges, resulting in a fast-paced and condensed version that eliminates downtime and maximizes fun.

Players must then use the clues on the card to try and get their teammates to correctly guess the person, thing, or place. With limited time and the added challenge of new cards being added, Cranium Hoopla is a fast-paced and exciting game that requires quick thinking and teamwork.

Soundstage, Cloodle, and Countaloupe are all familiar games to fans of Cranium, but Likewise has a unique twist. Instead of the typical charades or drawing gameplay, Likewise challenges players to come up with a "Like, But" phrase to help their team guess the answer. On the other hand, Countaloupe requires players to provide one-word, two-word, three-word, and so on clues until their team successfully guesses the word or phrase.

Some of the cards in Cranium Hoopla can be incredibly challenging, requiring players to come up with creative ways to get their teammates to guess the word or phrase. The ticking clock only adds to the pressure, making it difficult to complete the game within the time limit. Players may find themselves taking extra cards or spending too much time on one card, but those who master the game can move on to the even more challenging Advanced mode. This mode includes tasks like performing charades with your arms pinned to your sides or never being able to erase the white board when drawing pictures. Despite the difficulty, successfully beating the clock is a satisfying accomplishment, and the game's simple co-op format makes it a great choice for parties.

Cranium Hoopla offers a thrilling experience to fans of the original Cranium game. The game is faster-paced and consistently entertaining, although some may miss certain activities like clay sculpting. With over 300 cards and updated pop culture references, Cranium Hoopla is worth the upgrade for those who own an older version. It's a great addition to any game night rotation. You can get your hands on Cranium Hoopla now. This review was made possible by a copy of the game provided to Game Rant.