Tipsy Tower - Outdoor Block Stacking Physics Game

Tipsy Tower is a fun block-stacking physics game I designed, modeled, and printed from the ground up. It works great as a backyard game for kids, and it can be made even more chaotic and entertaining as a “tipsy” adult drinking game with friends.

The goal is simple: build the tower, take turns removing blocks, and try not to be the one who sends it toppling. It can be played solo as a balance challenge or with multiple players for a more competitive game night experience.

What’s Included

• Left base piece
• Right base piece
• 1 set of 11 blocks to start your tower
• Test joint connector pieces for dialing in tolerance

Print Settings

Please do not remove the modifier blocks or custom object settings. These are intentionally included to add weight to the ends of the base parts and to adjust the tolerance of the joints.

For best results:

• Base parts: 2/3 walls, 8% infill, honeycomb recommended
• Blocks: 2 walls, 3–5% infill, honeycomb recommended
• Use the test joint connector pieces first to verify fit before printing the full set
• The joint fit is designed to be snug, so a little force may be needed during assembly
• If tolerance is too tight, select the Base Parts and adjust the X-Y Contour Compensation under Quality → Precision by -0.05 at a time, keeping it in the negatives to remove material around the edges. However, this may require you to remove the painting on the logo (or remove them all together). I am working to address this in upcoming print profile fixes.

Notes

The connection tolerance is intentionally tight so the finished game feels solid and durable during play. If needed, a rubber mallet can help with assembly, but test pieces should be used first to confirm your printer’s tolerance is right on target.

Play Style

Tipsy Tower is designed to be flexible. Play it as a family-friendly outdoor stacking game, or turn it into a party challenge where each move raises the stakes. It’s easy to learn, quick to set up, and built to be the kind of game people want to keep pulling off the shelf.

Thanks for checking out Tipsy Tower. I designed this to be a fun, repeat-play game that looks great, prints cleanly, and brings a little extra physics chaos to game night.

Prototypes

This model took time, effort and lots of filament to get right. Countless iterations and adjusting got me to the model you see today. Below are some of the pieces and prototypes that came before the final result. Getting the right balance of weight, physics and still maintaining the fun and tension of the game took time. The final version was scaled down to reduce filament usage, time the print and get the proper weights for each piece.

Earlier versions of the game (not shown in the photo) used the curved bottom but a flat base, which posed some design challenges in regards to keeping the blocks where the user placed them. I decided to go with adding the peaks that the blocks sit into; instead of adding a pattern or texture to both surfaces to hold them there when you place the block.

Getting the balance right took some adjustments to the weight of each block, ensuring they didn't weigh too much, causing the tower to fall pre-maturely and never getting to the satifying end with the final block. This is what modeling looks like, iteration, refinement and then coming out with a solid product I am proud to share!