This offering in the Rio\Kosmos line of 2-player games requires the players to take part in a number of hot air balloon races. There are 5 trophies to win (each of a different colour) and the player that can capture 3 or more of the 5 trophies is declared the winner. The game then provides a set of cards in the same 5 colours, which are numbered, and these relate directly to the coloured trophies. For example the red cards are used to try and win the red trophy etc. To win trophies the player's must compete in a series of simultaneous races that take place in four different regions. These region tiles are placed in a vertical line in the centre of the table and the left side is one player's race region and the right side is used for the other player. Two of the terrains are rolling fields and the other two are mountain ranges. The numbers on the terrain (1, 2, 3 or 4) inform the player's of how many cards must be played to both sides of the terrain before the race is over and a race winner can be declared. The set-up is complete by drawing a number of coloured cubes from a cloth bag. The number on each terrain also determines how many cubes are placed on it, so at any one point in time their will be a total of 10 cubes in play. The cubes come in 5 different colours which match the cards and trophies in play. By winning races and acquiring cubes the player's go about their business of trying to win trophies. Each trophy is numbered and if a player can acquire the number of like coloured cubes on a trophy they win it. So how do players win races to acquire the cubes. Each player starts the game with a hand of 8 cards. On a player's turn they must play one card to the table, and it can be played in either player's race regions. Once a card is played they must draw a new card to return their hand to 8 cards. Now remember that each terrain is numbered. Once that many cards are played to both sides of the terrain (i.e. 1 card to both sides of the terrain numbered 1) the race is over. The winner is calculated based on the terrain type. To win a race in the rolling fields, the total of all cards on each side is calculated and the lowest total wins. Mountain regions work in the same way except the highest value wins. The winner takes all cubes on the terrain and if allows them to win a trophy, then the appropriate trophy card is taken. The terrain of the completed race is then flipped over, so mountains will become rolling grasslands and vice versa. New cubes are drawn from the bag to fill the terrain and the game continues until one player acquires their third trophy and wins the game.

Balloon Cup is one of the best designed games that I have experienced. Every turn offers a wealth of options as cards can be played for self benefit or to hinder the efforts of the opposition. As the cards are numbered from 1-13 (some colours do not include all numbers) they can be use to benefit or hinder the different regions and card counting can be a valuable skill. Player's must consider carefully which card they play to finish a race as the new terrain will require cards of the opposite values to win the next race. Drawing cubes from a bag ensures that the game will play differently every time. I highly recommend this game for two!