SNAP Review – Kenny G: Keepin’ It Saxy Game

Kenny G: Keepin It Saxy boardgame

Kenny G: Keepin’ It Saxy is a cooperative game from Big G Creative for 2-5 players. In Keepin’ It Saxxy, your goal is to get Kenny G to the end of his day without losing his groove. Cooperate with other players to play sound cards to get through events and get to the end of the day. We’ll tell you all about it in under 5 minutes!

Every player has an open hand of cards. Most of them are sound cards (with a unique color and symbol), but a few are special abilities.

sound cards: Woop, Biddle, Scoodily, Bop, Dee, Doop, Wa Wuh Wah. Ability cards: Sax with Friends, Master of Sax, Sax Solo.

How to Play

The board has two sections for each part of the day. Begin a round by flipping over the indicated number of event cards from the correct deck (morning, afternoon, evening). Each player gets three actions to work towards completing these events by playing the necessary sound cards in sequence.

4 open hands of cards and 2 event careds: Flight Delay to Seattle; Out of Hair Product
Beginning a four-player game

Players get three actions. They can play some of their sound cards to complete the events, trade cards, or draw new cards to find what they need. The ability cards are more powerful than sound cards because they allow players to draw AND trade, or draw extra cards and distribute them around the table.

Once all players have completed the “sax” phase, it’s time for the “groove” phase. Every incomplete event card shows a number: roll that many dice, then loose groove tokens according to the total!

Out of Hair Product event; two dice rolled and show two dots.
The dice roll means we lose two groove tokens.

Over six rounds, the events get progressively worse and more difficult. Kenny G is having a tough day! At the end of the sixth round, if Kenny G has some groove left, you win! You don’t even have to complete the remaining events – Kenny has made it through the day with his groove intact.

Event: Social Media Controversy
Neutralizing the event with Doop Bop Dee…

Impressions

Keepin’ It Saxy was a fun take on a cooperative game. It was awfully stressful for such a light-hearted game. It’s introductory-level, with open hands and no restrictions on communication. We enjoyed working together to get just the right sound cards played to wipe events off the board and keep Kenny’s groove.

Player order matters a bit, since cards have to be played in order. The game is so simple that unfortunately you’re a victim of what cards come out. Player choices always felt very obvious – if you have cards that you can play, do it! Otherwise, draw more cards.

Kenny G figurine at the end of the game board
Kenny made it to the end of the day!

For an entry-level game, Kenny G: Keepin’ It Saxy is solid and well-themed. It’s reasonably fun, especially if you can lean into the theme of helping Kenny G keep his groove.

The theme is light, the cooperative play is fine, and it’s not terribly engaging. As games go, Keepin’ It Saxy is kind of forgettable. On the other hand, it’s only $10, and a theme you won’t find anywhere else. Considering all those elements, we’ll rate it 2.5 reeds out of 5.


The Family Gamers received a copy of Kenny G: Keepin’ It Saxy from Big G Creative for this review.

This post contains affiliate links, which do not change your price, but help support The Family Gamers.

SNAP review music is Avalanche, provided courtesy of You Bred Raptors?

Kenny G: Keepin' It Saxy Game
  • Saxophone Reeds
2.5

Summary

Number of Players: 2-5

Age Range: 12+

Playtime: 30 minutes


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