Arcadia (2015) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Arcadia is a card game released in 2015, designed by Kim Smith and published by APE Games. It is a strategic game that involves hand management, set collection, and simulation mechanics. The game is suitable for 2-4 players and has a runtime of 45-60 minutes. Arcadia is recommended for ages 8 and up.

Game Components of Arcadia

Rulebook: A full-color, easy-to-read rulebook.

Attraction Cards: 40 cards representing rides, shows, food, and midway attractions.

Job Cards: 84 cards that players collect to trade in for attractions.

Expert Cards: 20 cards that provide more talent icons than job cards, aiding in building attractions faster.

Critic Cards: 16 cards that offer additional points at the end of the game based on specific park criteria.

Year End and Tracker Cards: Cards to track the game’s progression over four years.

Tokens: Used for various tracking purposes.

How To Setup Arcadia

To set up Arcadia, players start by drawing two Critic Cards, which provide bonus points based on the types of attractions built. The game area is organized with three rows of cards: Job Cards, Expert Cards, and Attraction Cards. Each player begins with a set of Job Cards. The deck of Attraction Cards is shuffled, and a number of cards are drawn to fill the rows. The Year End and Tracker Cards are placed at the bottom of the deck to mark the end of each year.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Card Collection: Players collect Job Cards and Expert Cards to match the icon requirements of Attraction Cards.

Attraction Building: Players build attractions by matching the icons on their Job and Expert Cards with the requirements on the Attraction Cards.

Leveling Up: Players can build higher-level attractions by first having the lower-level versions of the same type.

Resource Management: Players manage their hand cards and build attractions strategically.

Game Objective

The objective is to build an amusement park that earns the most points over four years. Points are awarded for the attractions built, with higher-level attractions worth more points. Additional points are awarded based on the Critic Cards held by each player.

Player Experience

Playing Arcadia feels like a card-based version of games like Ticket to Ride, where players collect resources (Job and Expert Cards) to build various attractions. The game is family-friendly, with adorable art by Kim Smith, making it appealing to a wide range of players. However, the game’s simplicity can sometimes feel restrictive due to the specific icon requirements on the cards, which can lead to frustration if not managed carefully.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8+.

Strategic Depth: Requires planning and resource management.

Variety of Attractions: Offers a diverse range of rides, shows, food, and midway attractions.

Bonus Points System: Critic Cards add an extra layer of strategy for earning points.

Cons

Restrictive Card Requirements: The specific icon requirements can be frustrating and restrictive.

Hand Management Limitations: The game does not clearly specify a hand limit, which can lead to confusion.

Personal Thoughts on Arcadia

Arcadia is ideal for those who enjoy light to medium-weight strategy games and have a fondness for theme park settings. It’s a great introduction to card-based resource management games and is suitable for families or casual game nights. However, players seeking highly complex strategies or those who prefer less restrictive gameplay mechanics might find Arcadia too simplistic or frustrating at times.

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