Stealing Scenes: Action! Game Review

The Basics:

• For ages 10 and up (publisher suggests 12+)
• For 1 to 8 players
• Approximately 30 minutes to complete

Geek Skills:

• Counting & Math
• Logical & Critical Decision Making
• Hand/Resource Management

Learning Curve:

• Child – Easy
• Adult – Easy

Theme & Narrative:

• Impress the director with your incredible acting by stealing the scene from would-be action stars

Endorsements:

• Child Geek approved!
• Parent Geek approved!
• Gamer Geek rejected!

Overview

In this game of movie magic, each player takes on the role of a would-be Hollywood Star! There are few opportunities to highlight your talent, meaning you have to act quickly to get the director’s attention. Competition, as you can imagine, is fierce. Being a pretty face in a city of pretty people isn’t enough. You must bring your talent and energy, play it big, and don’t look back! Success is given only to those with skill and dedication to do all they can to get the part.

Stealing Scenes: Action!, designed by David Cassiday, Bryan Donihue and published by One-Legged GM, is comprised of 156 cards. The cards are as thick and as durable as your standard playing card. Illustrations by Rob O’Neil capture iconic scenes in movies and legendary actors with a significant focus on detail and – as the game’s title suggests – action.

Prepping the Shot

To set up the game, complete the following steps.

First, separate the cards into three specific decks (Action, Scene, and Resource) by card type. Shuffle each deck separately after separating. The three card types are as follows:

Actor Cards

Actor cards represent one of 10 different talented actors who are portrayed in the movies found in the game. Each Actor card includes an illustration of the actor, their name (which is very close to the actual names of the actors being portrayed), and a resource icon.

Scene Cards

Scene cards represent iconic scenes in popular action movies. Each includes an illustration of the scene, a title, and several resources required to “steal the scene” during the game. Scene cards also indicate the number of points each is worth.

Resource Cards

Resource cards represent various props and effects to make the action scene a reality. There are a total of six resource types, with each type represented by a uniquely colored icon and shape.

Second, deal one Actor card to each player, face-up. Any Actor cards not used are placed back in the game box.

Third, deal six Resource cards face-down to each player. Players should not show their Resource cards until played. Place the remaining deck of Resource cards within easy reach of all the players, leaving room for a discard pile.

Fourth, draw and place several Scene cards face-up based on the game’s number of players. For example, you would draw three Scene cards in a six-player game. Place the remaining deck of Scene cards within easy reach of all the players, leaving room for a discard pile.

This completes the game setup. Determine who will go first and begin.

Lights! Camera! Action?

Stealing Scenes: Action! is played in turns with no set number of turns per game. A player’s turn is summarized here.

Step One: Select One Action

Each player has three possible actions, but only one can be taken per player’s turn.

Steal One or More Scene Cards

Each Scene card depicts a number of required resources to claim the scene. Only those Scene cards other players have not yet stolen can be taken. The player must show they have the necessary resources to take the Scene cards. These can come from their Actor and any Resource cards in their hand that match the required resources on the Scene card. If they have the necessary number and type, they discard the used Resource cards (keeping their Actor card) and place the Scene card in front of them.

Players can steal multiple Scenes per turn if they have enough Resource cards. However, their Actor can only provide a resource type once per turn.

Discard At Least Three Resource Cards

The player can select any three or more Resource cards they currently have and discard them. If the player likes, they can discard their remaining hand, but the minimum must always be three. Discarded Resource cards are placed in the Resource discard pile.

Sabotage the Active Scenes

The player takes all the currently available Scene cards and discards them.

Step Two: Refill and Redraw

After taking their one action, the player draws as many Scene cards as necessary to refill the available Scene cards to the same number of Scene cards when the game was initially set up.

The player then refills their Resource cards back up to six in total.

If the Resource and Scene deck is depleted at any time, shuffle their respective discard piles to create new draw decks.

This completes the player’s turn. The next player in the turn order sequence now takes their turn.

Cut!!!

The game ends when any player has stolen enough scenes that award points equal to or greater than the required number as determined by the number of players in the game, making them the winner. Each Scene card is worth the points indicated on the cards. An additional point is awarded per Scene card if the player has the matching Actor intended for the scene.

Game Variant

Stealing Scenes: Action! can be played as a solitary game where the player plays the actor’s stunt double. The game is set up as generally done for a two-player game, with one of the two hands belonging to a non-existent player. Gameplay is more or less the same, with no changes in the victory condition other than the player losing if the non-existent player can steal 15 or more points of Scene cards.

To learn more about Stealing Scenes: Action!, visit the game’s web page.

Final Word

The Child Geeks had no issues learning how to play the game and enjoyed it a great deal. The game is fast and allows for much table talk without interrupting the gameplay. Many of the movies depicted on the Scene cards were not known to the Child Geeks due to the movie’s audience rating. This, however, didn’t stop the Child Geeks from playing the game or limit their enjoyment. According to one Child Geek, “You don’t need to know about the movie to play the game. I want to watch these movies, but Mom says I’m still too young. Maybe next year?” Another Child Geek said, “The game is fast, and I didn’t like it when others took the movie scenes I wanted, but I was able to get others, so that worked OK.” When the last scene was filmed and the director shouted “Cut!” all the Child Geeks took a vote and agreed that Stealing Scenes: Action! was a good time.

The Parent Geeks enjoyed the game, finding it fast, fun, and exceptionally casual. Emphasis on the “casual.” According to one Parent Geek, “This was easy-breezy light fun. It is not difficult to learn and easy to play. I enjoyed remembering the movies and sharing my favorite scenes in each. It was a good time with my friends.” Another Parent Geek said,”An easy party game, and you don’t need to be a movie lover or even know what the movies are to enjoy it. Just match the resources and take the scene. The real fun comes from quoting the films and everyone sharing their favorite parts.” When the movies rolled their credits, the Parent Geeks took a vote, and all agreed that the game was worth the price of admission.

The Gamer Geeks found the game too easy and provided little excitement. According to one Gamer Geek, “The only entertainment I got from this game was remembering the movies. The gameplay is too light to be of any value to me, but I did enjoy the reminiscing. That, however, doesn’t make this a game I want to play again.” Another Gamer Geek said, “A great game for new and casual players and something to be avoided by gaming elitists. The game simply isn’t engaging enough to be worth my time. The tactical and strategic thinking level needed is so minimal that I wasn’t even paying attention until it was my turn again.” When all the Gamer Geeks emerged from the movie theater, they agreed they wanted their money back.

Stealing Scenes: Action! is a great game for casual players, and that makes it a game that should be avoided by gaming elitists or any gamer looking for a gaming experience with depth at their table. The game doesn’t provide it, which is very much done by design. This is a party game meant to allow people to interact with each other while they play the game. Not the other way around. If you put this game on the table with that in mind, you’ll have a great time.

The game itself is just fine. It’s, indeed, fast and easy to learn, as well as to play. Match resources, take a Scene card, and keep going until you win. In most cases, there is little incentive to focus on Scene cards that star the player’s Actor card. This is due to the need to collect any Scene card as quickly as possible. Grab those points and start banking them, or you’ll definitely be left out of the shot.

If you are looking for a fast-paced and easy-to-teach party game, you should undoubtedly try Stealing Scenes: Action! the first chance you get. Movie lovers will get more out of it, but it’s just quick fun for the rest of us. Give the game a shot and see if it makes the scene at your family gaming table.

This game was given to Father Geek as a review copy. Father Geek was not paid, bribed, wined, dined, or threatened in vain hopes of influencing this review. Such is the statuesque and legendary integrity of Father Geek.