Bigfoot (2014) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Bigfoot is a two-player deduction board game designed by Brett Brooks and released in in 2014. The game puts players in the shoes of cryptozoologists trying to prove the existence of Bigfoot. With a playtime of around 15 minutes, it is a quick and engaging game suitable for players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Bigfoot

Cards: Path cards, action cards, and location cards.

Markers: “Bigfeet” tokens used by Bigfoot to mark locations.

Rule Book: Though noted for being somewhat complicated.

How To Setup Bigfoot

To set up the game, Bigfoot starts by taking five location cards, which are kept secret. The Cryptozoologist draws six path cards, which include action cards and location cards, and lays out two paths. Bigfoot then places “bigfeet” markers on the cards corresponding to the locations in their hand.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Deduction: The Cryptozoologist must deduce the locations of Bigfoot’s hideouts based on the markers.

Action Management: The Cryptozoologist can spend actions to take additional guesses.

Turn-Based: Players take turns with the Cryptozoologist laying paths and Bigfoot placing markers.

Game Objective

Cryptozoologist’s Goal: Discover all five of Bigfoot’s locations within six rounds.

Bigfoot’s Goal: Avoid being discovered within the six rounds.

Player Experience

In *Bigfoot*, the gameplay is relatively simple but involves strategic thinking. The Cryptozoologist lays out paths and makes educated guesses about Bigfoot’s locations, while Bigfoot places markers to mislead or reveal their hideouts. However, the game has been criticized for lacking significant player interaction when playing as Bigfoot, as this role involves minimal active participation.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Games last approximately 15 minutes.

Simple to Learn: Basic gameplay mechanics make it easy to pick up.

Deduction Challenge: Provides a fun deduction puzzle for the Cryptozoologist.

Good for Parent-Child Play: Suitable for a parent and child setup where the child can feel involved by laying tokens.

Cons

Limited Interaction for Bigfoot: The Bigfoot role is largely passive, leading to less engagement for this player.

Potential for Imbalance: If the Cryptozoologist lays paths correctly, the game can become too straightforward.

Complex Rule Book: The rule book is noted for being somewhat complicated despite simple gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Bigfoot

*Bigfoot* is a light, filler game that excels in its deduction mechanics but falls short in player interaction, particularly for the Bigfoot role. It is well-suited for casual gamers, especially in a parent-child setup where the simplicity and interactive elements can be engaging. However, for seasoned gamers, the lack of active participation when playing as Bigfoot might make the game less enjoyable. Despite this, it remains a good addition to a game collection as a quick and simple deduction challenge.

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