Penguin (2007) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Penguin is a board game released in 2007, designed by renowned game designer Reiner Knizia. The game is published by Delta Vision Publishing and features artwork by Markus Wagner. Penguin falls under the categories of Action/Dexterity and Animals, with gameplay focusing on hand management and pattern building mechanics. The game is suitable for players aged 8 and above, with a playing time of around 20 minutes.

Game Components of Penguin

Plastic Penguins: Yellow, green, red, and blue round plastic figures with two slots near the top for stacking.

Player Screens: Small screens for each player, which are somewhat flimsy.

Penalty Point Tokens: Tokens used to track penalties.

Black Cloth Bag: For random drawing of penguins at the start of the game.

How To Setup Penguin

To setup the game, each player draws six to twelve penguins from the black cloth bag, depending on the number of players. These penguins are placed behind the player’s screen. A pile of penalty point tokens is placed on the table. One player is chosen to go first, and the game begins with the formation of a penguin pyramid on the table, known as the iceberg.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Stacking Mechanic: Players take turns adding penguins to the iceberg, either on the bottom row or stacked on top of two other penguins of matching colors.

Color Matching: A penguin can be stacked on top of two other penguins only if it matches one of the two colors below.

Penalty for Falling: If a player causes the penguins to fall, they receive penalty points equal to the number of penguins behind their screen, and the game is reset.

Round Completion: The round ends when all players have placed their penguins or cannot play anymore. Players receive penalty points for any remaining penguins.

Game Objective: The game is played for as many rounds as there are players. The player with the fewest points at the end wins. If a player gets rid of all their penguins, they can subtract two points from their total.

Player Experience

The game is marred by physical challenges, particularly with the penguins themselves. The round base of the penguins makes them easy to twist, but they must face exactly the same way for proper stacking. This is frustrating, especially for younger children, as the penguins do not fit well into the slots. The game components, while colorful and well-designed, are often more frustrating than fun.

Pros

Colorful and Attractive: The game components are brightly colored and well-illustrated.

Simple Concept: The idea of stacking penguins is straightforward and appealing.

Cons

Difficult Stacking: The penguins are hard to stack properly due to their design.

Frustrating for Younger Players: The game is challenging and often frustrating for children.

Flimsy Screens: The player screens are not very sturdy.

Personal Thoughts on Penguin

Penguin is a game that, with some design adjustments, could have been enjoyable. However, its current form makes it more of a frustration than a fun experience, especially for younger players. It might appeal to those who enjoy dexterity games and are looking for a simple, yet challenging, stacking game. However, for most players, the annoyances with the penguin figures will likely outweigh the entertainment value.

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