In previous entries, I’ve talked about how much I like two player games at home, but that doesn’t mean the only games we get to the table are exclusively designed as two players games. We can find satisfying games even when they’re designed for larger groups. Today I want to talk about a light filler game that we still need to show to larger groups.

Super Mega Lucky Box is easy to pitch: It’s Bingo/Lotería if it had actual gameplay decisions. You’re given several small 3×3 grids you manage with dry-erase markers, and you mark off numbers 1 through 9 as they are called from a deck of cards. When you complete a row, you’re given a bonus. Maybe the bonus is a type of token, maybe it’s immediately marking off another card. When you fully complete a card, you’ll get big points at the end of round. The end of the round also deals you out another new card to fill. Four rounds of this game and some quick scoring later, and you’re all wrapped up with the game!

I struggle to talk about this game without just regurgitating the rule book. From my brief description, this is near identical to Bingo/Lotería. This game manages to be engaging with only two mechanics that require active decisions. When a number is called, you only mark off one instance of that number in front of you. Even when the numbers being called is entirely out of your hands, you still have decisions to make on which lines to pursue. Of course, the numbers called aren’t out of your control.

One of the bonuses you can earn are lightning bolt tokens, which let you adjust the called number for yourself, and yourself only. A 7 is called? Spend a lightning bolt and roll it down to a 6. Spend 2 lightning bolts and turn it to a 9. This is a bingo game with light resource management. Careful usage of your lightning bolts can let a useless number suddenly turn into something that cascades into several bonuses across your entire board.

Everything in this game boils down to these two decisions: Which instances of the called number do I mark, and how do I best utilize my lightning bolts? Bonuses from line completion will entice you towards certain lines and cards, but this game provides a lot of engagement for how little interactivity is on display here. It just goes to show that Bingo/Lotería were only a few steps away from being actual games.

As I have married into a Mexican family, I have been a part of my fair share of Lotería games. While I appreciate the frenzied shouting and atmosphere of the game, there aren’t any decisions presented. There’s the illusion of picking a board at the onset of the game, but beyond that, you’re just marking spaces as they are called. Can Super Mega Lucky Box fill this gameplay gap at events?

It’s certainly a better game, that’s no contest, but the game doesn’t have the same cultural cachet as Lotería. I can’t expect this game to replace it entirely. Instead, Super Mega Lucky Box serves as a valuable, low stakes, intro game in my collection. The amount of decisions leave this game accessible to almost anyone besides small children. Not everything in my collection needs to be a complete brainteaser. Sometimes it’s just enough to chant for the number 4 to show up. Let’s see if anyone can beat my solo score of 66!