Smash Up - The Card Game in IOS

Board

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

81/100

Smash Up: The Digital Edition is a fantastic translation of the beloved 'shufflebuilding' tabletop game. As a fan of the physical card game, I was impressed by how well the faction mechanics were preserved. The core hook—smashing together two disparate factions like Ninja-Zombies or Pirate-Dinosaurs—is just as chaotic and fun on mobile as it is on the table. Each faction has distinct mechanics that require totally different strategies, making every 40-card deck feel unique.

Technically, the game offers a solid cross-platform multiplayer experience, allowing you to challenge friends regardless of their device. The inclusion of a tutorial system and 'step-through' modes is a great touch for newcomers who might be overwhelmed by the myriad card interactions. While the UI can occasionally feel a bit busy due to the complex nature of the board state, the ability to play a quick round against the AI or jump into a global leaderboard match makes this a great way to get your Smash Up fix on the go.

Reviewed on: Fri Mar 08 2024
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I've played my fair share of the physical Smash Up, and the core concept remains brilliantly chaotic. Taking Zombies and Aliens and smashing them together for card combos is inherently fun. The app does a decent job of enforcing the rules and handling the math, which is arguably the worst part of the tabletop version.

However, as a conservative grader, I have to penalize the execution. The user interface is clearly designed for tablets; on a phone, reading card text is an exercise in squinting. The AI is also a bit of a mixed bag, oscillating between painfully dumb and unfairly omniscient. It's a functional port, but it lacks the polish and smooth user experience of a top-tier digital board game like Hearthstone or digital Ticket to Ride. Good for fans, but rough for newcomers.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Faithful recreation of the physical game rules
  • Automates tedious math and scoring
  • Fun mix-and-match faction mechanics
  • Cramped and unintuitive UI on phones
  • Inconsistent AI difficulty
  • Online matchmaking can be sparse

Technical Report

Performance: Stable, but card text resolution is poor on older devices.

Accessibility:
  • Rule enforcement
  • Automated scoring

Audience Fit

Buy if: You are an existing fan of the physical Smash Up game or love deep card synergies.

Skip if: You hate text-heavy cards or plan to play exclusively on a small iPhone.

Similar Games:
  • Star Realms
  • Ascension: Deckbuilding Game
  • Hearthstone

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative gamer
  • Hardware: iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • Playtime: 12 hours
  • Status: Played multiple solo and online matches

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 2.2Mon Mar 09 2020

Fix for online cross-play.

AI infinite loop fixes.


Get ready to start the carnage in the digital edition of AEG’s shufflebuilding card game, Smash Up. Choose two faction decks from Pirates, Ninjas, Robots, Zombies, and more, and combine them to create a hybrid team that is a force to be reckoned with!

-- NO GAME IS THE SAME… NO FACTION IS THE SAME! --

Mash up 2 factions into a 40 deck of cards, with each faction having different mechanics every mash up is different.

-- THINK STRATEGY! --

You only need 15 points to win the game…Sounds easy? How easy is it when another player has a Pirate-Dinosaur deck, they decide to sail into the base you have your eyes on and release King Rex to stomp your minions into the ground… Better think ahead bro.

-- REVIEWS --

“It’s a goofy theme with fun art and high replayability, but beneath that veneer of casual play is a great middle weight card game that lives on the line between hardcore gamer and casual enjoyment.” —Jonathan Bolding “The Escapist”

“Smash Up is smashing good fun, especially among gamers who can relax, revel in the sheer audacity of some stupid-good plays, and aren’t ashamed to let loose and let their geek flags fly.” —Dice Hate Me

“What do Pirates, Ninjas, Robots, Zombies, Aliens, Wizards and some other things have in common? They’re all trying to take over the world! But they can’t do it alone - so they’re teaming up.”

-- FEATURES --

- Online Cross-platform multiplayer: 2 to 4 players

- Leader boards & Achievements

- Tutorial system plus ‘Step Through’ and ‘Review' modes to help players learn

-- Languages --

- English

- Français

- Deutsch


Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Get ready to start the carnage in the digital edition of AEG’s shufflebuilding card game, Smash Up. Choose two faction decks from Pirates, Ninjas, Robots, Zombies, and more, and combine them to create a hybrid team that is a force to be reckoned with!

-- NO GAME IS THE SAME… NO FACTION IS THE SAME! --

Mash up 2 factions into a 40 deck of cards, with each faction having different mechanics every mash up is different.

-- THINK STRATEGY! --

You only need 15 points to win the game…Sounds easy? How easy is it when another player has a Pirate-Dinosaur deck, they decide to sail into the base you have your eyes on and release King Rex to stomp your minions into the ground… Better think ahead bro.

-- REVIEWS --

“It’s a goofy theme with fun art and high replayability, but beneath that veneer of casual play is a great middle weight card game that lives on the line between hardcore gamer and casual enjoyment.” —Jonathan Bolding “The Escapist”

“Smash Up is smashing good fun, especially among gamers who can relax, revel in the sheer audacity of some stupid-good plays, and aren’t ashamed to let loose and let their geek flags fly.” —Dice Hate Me

“What do Pirates, Ninjas, Robots, Zombies, Aliens, Wizards and some other things have in common? They’re all trying to take over the world! But they can’t do it alone - so they’re teaming up.”

-- FEATURES --

- Online Cross-platform multiplayer: 2 to 4 players

- Leader boards & Achievements

- Tutorial system plus ‘Step Through’ and ‘Review' modes to help players learn

-- Languages --

- English

- Français

- Deutsch


Ratings & Reviews

4.2 out of 5 with 661 Counts
Age Rating 9+

Screenshots

Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 1Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 2Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 3Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 4Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 5Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 6Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 7Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 8Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 9Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 10Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 11Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 12Smash Up - The Card Game screenshot 13

Unleash the carnage in Smash Up: The Digital Edition! In this shufflebuilding card game, you choose two faction decks—from Pirates and Ninjas to Robots and Zombies—to create a hybrid team that is a force to be reckoned with. Each faction offers unique mechanics, meaning no two games are ever the same. Your goal is to reach 15 points by stomping on bases and outplaying your opponents. With online cross-platform multiplayer, global leaderboards, and a comprehensive tutorial, the chaos of Smash Up is now available anywhere.

Features

1

Online Cross-Platform Multiplayer for 2 to 4 players

2

Unique shufflebuilding: combine any two factions

3

Full tutorial system and review modes

4

Global leaderboards and achievements

5

Based on the award-winning AEG card game

Tips

Promotion Videos

Smash Up Teaser Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

Recommended Links

Smash Up on BGG

Information and strategy for the original physical game.

Community

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Gameplays

Q&A

Yes, the game supports single-player play against AI and can be played offline.

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