Which Expansion

Smash Up expansions

Base game: 2–4 players45 minAlderac Entertainment Group12 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Awesome Level 9000

    Buy this first

    Assorted Meeples ranks it first and calls these decks among the best in power and versatility, and a BGG forum regular said to take it as one of any two sets.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Bear Cavalry, Ghosts, Killer Plants, Steampunks) and 8 bases, introducing Talents, abilities a card can use once per turn.

    Fixes: Gives the base set's mostly straightforward decks more power and combo options without making any pairing unbeatable.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  2. #2 overall

    Pretty Pretty Smash Up

    Buy this first

    Assorted Meeples ranks it second and says its decks pair well with many factions, and a BGG poster said it works best alongside the base game and Awesome Level 9000.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Fairies, Kitty Cats, Mythic Horses, Princesses) and 8 bases, with cute themes and distinct playstyles such as 6 power-5 Princesses.

    Fixes: Gives each deck a clearer foil in the set than Awesome Level 9000 did, so there is more variety without runaway pairings.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  3. #3 overall

    Monster Smash

    Worth it

    Straightforward counter mechanic and competitive factions (except Vampires). BGG posters name it one of the two sets worth buying alongside Pretty Pretty.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Vampires, Mad Scientists, Giant Ants, Werewolves) and 8 bases, introducing power counters that give a minion a lasting +1 power.

    Fixes: Adds a simple counter mechanic that opens new strategies even for your older decks.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  4. #4 overall

    Science Fiction Double Feature

    Worth it

    Ranked third by Assorted Meeples; factions reasonably powered, but Shapeshifters, Super Spies and Time Travelers are tricky. Less innovative than Pretty Pretty or Monster Smash.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Cyborg Apes, Shapeshifters, Super Spies, Time Travelers) and 8 bases, with deck manipulation, discard-pile recursion and copying effects.

    Fixes: Offers sci-fi themed decks with different playstyles that pair with both older and newer factions.

    Expansion2–4 playersAdds more rulesFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  5. #5 overall

    What Were We Thinking?

    Worth it

    Assorted Meeples ranks it sixth, calls the factions flexible and popular with its game group, and BGG's fan geeklist puts it fourth of 14 expansions by average rating.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four unthemed factions (Explorers, Grannies, Rock Stars, Teddy Bears) and 8 bases with card advantage, minion swarming and deck-manipulation twists.

    Fixes: Adds flexible decks that pair well with factions from any set and are popular picks at the table.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  6. #6 overall

    It's Your Fault!

    Worth it

    BGG's fan geeklist ranks it first of 14 expansions by average rating (7.5), and a Reddit expansion guide recommends fan-voted sets like this for casual groups.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four fan-voted factions (Dragons, Mythic Greeks, Sharks, Super Heroes) and 8 bases.

    Fixes: Delivers the most-requested themes in a casual-friendly set that is easy to bring to a mixed table.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groupsPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  7. #7 overall

    World Tour: Culture Shock

    Worth it

    Assorted Meeples ranks it seventh and says its folklore factions won the reviewer over with robust lines of play, though they sit in the middle of the power range.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Five factions (Anansi Tales, Ancient Incas, Grimms' Fairy Tales, Polynesian Voyagers, Russian Fairy Tales) with folklore themes.

    Fixes: Gives experienced groups middle-power decks with more intricate lines of play than the older sets.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  8. #8 overall

    Big in Japan

    Depends on your group

    BGG's fan geeklist rates it second of 14 (7.5), but Assorted Meeples warns its mechanics work less well with factions from other sets.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Kaiju, Magical Girls, Mega Troopers, Itty Critters) and 8 bases, introducing oversized Kaiju cards and the optional Titans rule.

    Fixes: Brings the most-requested Japanese pop culture themes to the table.

    Expansion2–4 playersAdds more rulesBest for casual groupsPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  9. #9 overall

    Cease and Desist

    Depends on your group

    BGG's fan geeklist rates it third of 14 (7.4) and a Reddit expansion guide files it with theme-driven fan-request sets that suit casual tables.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four sci-fi and fantasy parody factions (Astroknights, Star Roamers, Changerbots, Ignobles) and 8 bases.

    Fixes: Adds popular pop-culture parody decks aimed at casual groups.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groupsPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  10. #10 overall

    That 70's Expansion

    Depends on your group

    A Reddit expansion guide files it with the refinement sets that add new mechanics to older decks, but it was not among Assorted Meeples' eight recommended expansions.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Truckers, Disco Dancers, Vigilantes, Kung Fu Fighters) and 8 bases.

    Fixes: Adds retro themed decks for groups that already own the older sets.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any groupPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  11. #11 overall

    World Tour: International Incident

    Depends on your group

    Assorted Meeples was not wowed by the bland designs of the stereotypical cultural icons here and preferred the Culture Shock half.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Luchadores, Mounties, Musketeers, Sumo Wrestlers) and 8 bases.

    Fixes: Adds present-day national icon themes to the table.

    Expansion2–4 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for casual groupsPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store
  12. #12 overall

    The Obligatory Cthulhu Set

    Most groups can skip

    BGG forum posters, including an AEG playtester, said it is the set they would drop or hesitate to play because Madness slows games, and Assorted Meeples warns its factions rarely work with other sets.

    Needs: Playable alone for 2 players (each player mixes 2 factions); 3-4 players need a second Smash Up set or the base game. Mixes with any other Smash Up set.

    Adds: Four factions (Cthulhu Cultists, Elder Things, Innsmouth, Miskatonic University) and 8 bases, with a Madness card type that costs end-game VP.

    Fixes: Adds a risk-and-reward Madness layer for experienced groups.

    Expansion2–4 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groupsPrice: $20–$40
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAEG Online Store

Need the base game?

Buy:AmazonAEG Online Store

Stuck between two?

Smash Up expansions: quick answers

Which Smash Up expansion should I buy first?

Awesome Level 9000. Assorted Meeples ranks it first and calls these decks among the best in power and versatility, and a BGG forum regular said to take it as one of any two sets.

Is Awesome Level 9000 worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Four factions (Bear Cavalry, Ghosts, Killer Plants, Steampunks) and 8 bases, introducing Talents, abilities a card can use once per turn.

Awesome Level 9000 or Pretty Pretty Smash Up: which first?

We’d buy Awesome Level 9000 first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-08.