Gelato Mio (2019) Board Game

Gelato Mio is a card game designed by João Quintela Martins and released in in 2019. The game is centered around the theme of running your own gelato shop and trying to attract the most customers by offering a variety of delicious gelato flavors.

Game Components of Gelato Mio

Ingredient cards: Featuring items like milk, sugar, strawberries, vanilla, chocolate, cookie straws, and cones.

Order cards: Used to fulfill sundae orders for victory points.

Bonus objective cards: Seven cards that offer immediate or final scoring opportunities.

Ice cream scoop cards: In vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate flavors, used as a supply.

Penalty cards: Include “>7 card” and “>3 scoops” cards to enforce hand size and ice cream limits.

How To Setup Gelato Mio

To set up the game, shuffle the ingredient deck and lay out a 3×3 array of cards on the table. Place the seven bonus objective cards nearby. Set up the order cards with the most complex sundae card available from the start, and split the rest into three stacks with the top card turned face up. Finally, place the ice cream scoop cards in piles off to the side.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Draw a card: Choose a card from the ingredient array. If adjacent cards are identical, they must also be drawn.

Make ice cream: Discard one cream, one sugar, and one flavor ingredient to take a scoop of matching ice cream.

Fulfill orders: Complete sundae orders using the collected ingredients for victory points.

End game condition: The game ends when one of the three flavors of ice cream balls is exhausted.

Scoring: Assign bonus cards based on the most scoops of each flavor. Each pair of identical cards in the hand is worth a point. The player with the most points wins, with ties broken in favor of the player with the fewest ice cream balls.

Player Experience

Gelato Mio offers a delightful and refreshing gaming experience, especially during warm weather or themed evenings. The game requires strategic card selection, as players must balance the need for specific ingredients with the risk of leaving opportunities for other players. The penalty cards add a layer of complexity, ensuring players do not become too greedy with their hand size or ice cream collection.

Pros

Portable and compact: The game comes in a small, portable package.

Family-friendly: Suitable for ages 6 and above.

Themed and engaging: The ice cream theme is appealing and fun.

Clean and appealing artwork: The cards are sturdy and visually pleasing.

Simple yet strategic gameplay: Easy to learn but requires thoughtful planning.

Cons

Requires table space: Despite the compact packaging, the game needs a fair amount of table space to set up.

Penalty cards can be harsh: The “>7 card” and “>3 scoops” cards can significantly impact player strategies.

Limited depth: The game is light and may not appeal to players seeking complex gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Gelato Mio

Gelato Mio is perfect for families, casual gamers, and anyone looking for a light, enjoyable game to play during social gatherings or themed evenings. It is an excellent choice for those who appreciate set collection mechanics and a fun, easy-to-learn game that still offers some strategic depth. While it may not be as complex as other games, its simplicity is part of its charm, making it a great addition to any game collection.

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