Game Review: ‘Cornhole Shootout’ from ABetter Design

Cornhole Shootout from ABetter Design combines two of the most recognizable carnival and arcade games of all time into a single feat of backyard fun. Cornhole has been around for well over a century, offering an alternative to the classic horseshoes and even an official association. Basketball of course has its associations, too, and everyone gets excited when they see a netted shot game challenging players to make quick baskets. Taking the best of both, Cornhole Shootout gives players the smooth play of cornhole with an extra level of skill literally on top with a backboard and hoop.

Plenty of Angles to Play

A game of Cornhole Shootout begins either between two players or two teams of two players for the regular rules set. Each team gets four beanbags, split evenly. Teams then take turns throwing with teams’ players swapping turns, all adding up to eight throws in a round. Since there are four beanbags for each team, there is room for flexibility to suit whatever number of players want to get involved. There could be a solo player against a team of two for a party of three, or there could be as many as eight people each giving one throw.

Skills Pay the Bills

With versatility rivaling skeeball, Cornhole Shootout offers different point values depending on where the throw goes. If the beanbag lands on the main board, it is a single point. Tossing the beanbag through the hoop is worth two points. Getting the beanbag into the hole grants three points. Adding the two together with a beanbag through the hoop and into the hole makes for a whopping five points in a single throw. At the end of each round of eight throws, teams add up their scores. The lower score is subtracted from the higher one, and the team with the higher points gets the difference. This system of subtracting scores gives more balance than simply counting per throw so that even masters will have a challenge against one another. First team to rake in 21 points wins.

Easy Assembly and Disassembly

While some cornhole sets are heavy, blocky wooden slabs, Cornhole Shootout borrows from its softer-netted shootout cousins with a flexible board supported by rings of pipes. This makes for quick setup simply by fitting pipes together. When it is time to tear down, the entire set fits in a small duffel, allowing Cornhole Shootout to be stored or brought along for outdoor adventures like camping and cookouts.

Cornhole Shootout is a tossing game for two or more players aged six and up. Like many tossing games, replay-ability is high with players often wanting another throw just as soon as they make one. More throws lead to better practice, making for champions who dedicate themselves. And, with each team having four beanbags in play each round, there can even be throws to save previous throws, such as knocking a beanbag caught on the hoop off so that both it and the newly thrown beanbag go through the hoop and down into the hole for an incredible ten points where there had not been any before. Upon seeing a throw like that, players will be eager to outdo even themselves.