Beyond the Backyard: An Overview
While most people know Nerf, they don't realize that the hobby of Foam Blasters has grown well past its roots. No longer just a tool to torment your sibling, now with larger and more powerful blasters, true strategic games are taking over backyards everywhere. Battlefields with set barriers, teamwork tactical fights, zombie invasions, and even games that resemble soccer. This blog's goal is to explore the many types of games that can be played, as well as game types we offer at Foam Hounds. Let's start by diving right into the four main categories of game types as I see them.
The first category I want to talk about is what I would like to call the Classic, or arena games. These are best for casual play, yet still fast-paced, with simple rules and quick respawns. The action does not stop as both sides struggle with the simple yet thrilling objective, like Team Deathmatch or Capture the Flag. The thing that makes this category one of the most requested is the high-energy aspect with low downtime or pre-explaining immersive rules like other equally fun categories have. Grab a blaster, divide up teams, and shout go.
The second category is scenario- or objective-based games, often inspired by the first-person shooter video game genre. King of the Hill, Domination, Medic, and Search and Destroy are all staple games in this category. These games focus less on fast respawns, often having longer respawn timers before you can get back into the action. This forces players to act with more strategy, or risk losing the round. This category tends to work best with higher-powered blasters and a slightly older crowd, as it takes stronger teamwork.
The third category is Survival, or Narrative games. This currently contains one of the largest and most enjoyed playtypes by the community known as HvZ (Humans vs Zombies). This is my personal favorite category as it feels less like playing a game, and more like living in a movie or game. Picture being trapped in a mall, the last human survivors with limited ammo, and far more zombies around them than they can handle. They must move from place to place, finding more survivors and ammunition to try to survive the outbreak. While HvZ is the most well-known game in this category, other games in this category include Juggernaut, Bounty Hunter, and Last Stand.
The fourth and final category is a skill-based game. This one is a bit more diverse as it covers a whole host and variety of games. From games where suspicion is thrown on everyone in a game like Imposter, to games of H-O-R-S-E, or Foamball (like Laserball but with foam blasters). H-O-R-S-E is played like the classic basketball game of “copy my shot”, and Foamball is very much a combination of Team Deathmatch and a soccer- or rugby-like game without full contact. The good thing about this category is it is so varied that it can be near-endless with possibilities. As well, a lot of the games, like Imposter, are not as high-energy, allowing the parents to even join in and keep up with their kids' energy for a game or two.
No matter how new to the hobby you are—whether you are renting equipment or have an arsenal of your own—there is a game type that will be amazing for you! I plan on covering as many games as I can in upcoming blogs of “Beyond the Backyard.” I suggest everyone get out there and try a game or two, and if you need some help, Foam Hounds is always happy to step in. We provide the blasters, the barricades, and the referee to run the game! So, level up your next corporate retreat or birthday party, and have fun blasting each other while trying new games for the ultimate foam backyard adventure!
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