The premise of Ick: The Game is simple; monsters like repulsive stuff and require their favorite items before moving into a house. Thus players must attain the correct materials — used band-aids, rotten vegetables, toxic sludge, etc. — to pile up monsters and points in broken-down huts of grime.

The quick-moving card game, brought to life by the illustrations of artist and custom toy designer Michael Slack, isn’t predicated on strategy or subversion. There’s enough of both to keep game play interesting, but as is the case with many card games, luck is a player’s best friend.

The main drawback to Ick’s regular rules is that the fortunate are rewarded. Players keep drawing until they each reach six cards in hand per turn, but if a house card isn’t drawn, then there’s little chance to play gross stuff and continue the cycle. In addition, players can only put gross stuff into their own houses, so being dealt a bum first hand is usually bad news.

Fortunately, winning requires 100 points, a feat that takes a number of rounds to achieve. Ick is also sped up a great deal when alternate rules are enforced that allow players to throw down grody gunk in others’ homes.

Back stabbing is brought to a boil by allowing players’ monsters to swipe homes with their favorite items, and King Stink cards enable all-out theft as well as the protection of acquired goods.

The result is a rivalry-inducing bonanza that is most fun due to the visual stimulation of Slack’s creations (see Carlbuncle in his tighty whiteys above). For those that enjoy card games without confounding set-ups or rules, Ick comes recommended.

- Scott Morrow

Ick: The Game
$15.95, Chronicle Books
Release: July 19, 2007

Ick: The Game: www.chroniclebooks.com/ick/index.html
Chronicle Books: www.chroniclebooks.com
Michael Slack: www.slackart.com