なつめも (Natsumemo) (2019) Board Game

なつめも (Natsumemo) is a board game released in 2019 by designer 宮野華也 (Kaya Miyano) and published by cosaic. The game falls under the Adventure, Dice, Humor Sports, and Travel categories, offering players a fun and interactive experience.

Game Components of なつめも

Event cards representing various summer activities

Homework pages

Dice for tracking progress

Heart tokens for friendship points

Title cards for achievements

Player boards for scheduling

How To Setup なつめも

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and some basic components like heart tokens and homework pages. The event cards, which include a variety of summer activities, are shuffled and six cards are drawn for each week of the game. The start player reveals an event card and announces the day it will happen, inviting other players to join.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Scheduling: Players must schedule their summer activities carefully, ensuring they attend events, complete homework, and maintain friendships.

Event Participation: Each event has specific requirements and rewards, such as points, homework, or heart tokens.

Homework Management: Players must manage their homework, rolling dice to track progress and avoiding penalties for unfinished work.

Title Achievements: Completing specific tasks and attending certain events earns players titles, which provide additional points.

Friendship Points: Players earn points for being each other’s best friends.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most points by balancing event participation, homework completion, and building friendships.

Player Experience

Playing なつめも feels like managing a summer vacation diary, where every decision impacts the player’s overall experience. The game encourages strategic planning and social interaction, as players must coordinate their schedules to attend events together. The game’s minimalist design and simple rules make it easy to pick up, even without English rules, as explained by players who have taught it to others.

Pros

Clever Scheduling Mechanics: Players enjoy the challenge of fitting in various activities and managing their time.

Social Interaction: The game promotes social engagement and friendship-building.

Simple yet Engaging: Easy to learn, but with enough depth to keep players interested.

Thematic Engagement: The summer vacation theme is well-integrated and enjoyable.

Cons

Language Barrier: The game is primarily in Japanese, which can be a challenge for non-Japanese speakers.

Player Count: The game is more dynamic with 5 or 6 players, as with fewer players, the scheduling can feel less complex.

Homework Penalties: The homework system can be strict, leading to significant point losses if not managed properly.

Personal Thoughts on なつめも

なつめも is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy light to medium strategy games. It’s perfect for those who appreciate thematic games that capture the essence of summer vacations. While it may present a language barrier, the game’s simplicity and visual cues make it accessible even to those who don’t speak Japanese. Overall, なつめも offers a unique and enjoyable gaming experience that combines scheduling, social deduction, and strategic planning.

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