The game is heavily inspired by the iconic 1980s in cinema – featuring Action Heroes (representing typical action stars), Backtimers (a riff on Back to the Future), Extramorphs (a PG version of creatures from Alien), and Wraithrustlers (spiritually inspired by Ghostbusters).
The game is standalone, but it can also be added as an expansion to the base game Smash Up. Each player combines two factions and competes to conquer bases by deploying minions and playing action cards.
New mechanics:
- Stasis counters – allow partially “frozen” cards that activate later.
- Stored cards – special cards that can be saved for later use, often linked to factions dealing with “Wraiths” or time shifts.
Each faction offers unique traits:
- Action Heroes: powerful minions with power 5 and impactful ongoing actions, focused on smashing bases.
- Backtimers: manipulation of stasis tokens, enabling stronger moves, delaying cards, and controlling the top of the deck.
- Extramorphs: chain minions, from eggs to queen, enabling combos and a recurring “growth” mechanism.
- Wraithrustlers: unique interaction with “Wraiths” – they can place, destroy, and store them, creating strategic depth and complexity.
Smash Up: Excellent Movies, Dudes! blends nostalgic 80’s themes with innovative mechanics, delivering a rich experience for both movie fans and strategy gamers.
