SATANIMALS (2019) Board Game

SATANIMALS is a card game that was released in in 2019. It is designed by Missy Rayment and features artwork by MEGA MINT Games. The game falls under the categories of Horror, Humor, and Religious themes, making it a unique and intriguing choice for players looking for something a little different in their gaming experience.

Game Components of SATANIMALS

A deck of cards comprising five different types of ‘Satanimals’ (Karma the Dog, Ouija the Alpaca, Lucifer the Goat, Envy the Peacock, and Sloth the Sloth)

Zoo keeper cards

Visitor cards

Main Attraction cards

Scoring cards

How To Setup SATANIMALS

To set up SATANIMALS, each player is dealt a ‘Main Attraction’ card, which represents one of the five species of Satanimal and provides a 1-point endgame bonus for every Satanimal of that species in the player’s zoo. The remaining cards are shuffled and divided into nine equal stacks, arranged in a 3×3 grid. Only the top cards of each stack are face up, although some players find it more convenient to have all nine stacks face up.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Key Mechanics:

Set Collection: Players collect sets of Satanimal cards to build their demonic petting zoo.

Hand Management: Players manage their hand to optimize their collection and actions.

Take-That: Players can use visitor cards to disrupt opponents’ progress.

Incremental Scoring: Points increase with the number of Satanimals in a stack.

Game Objective:

Draw rows or columns of three cards from the grid.

Perform up to two actions: play a single species of Satanimal, play a zoo keeper, or sacrifice visitor cards.

Build stacks of Satanimals to maximize points, protected by zoo keepers if necessary.

The game ends when a player cannot draw three cards from the grid; the player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

SATANIMALS offers a engaging and strategic gameplay experience. Players must balance the need to accumulate high-scoring sets of Satanimals with the risk of being left with unplayed cards, which incur negative points. The game has a strong push-your-luck element and significant player interaction, particularly with the use of visitor cards to disrupt opponents. With more players, the game becomes more chaotic and tactically challenging, requiring careful management of resources and actions.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: Combines simple rules with deep strategic choices.

High Player Interaction: Players constantly interact through visitor cards and zoo keepers.

Beautiful Artwork: The demonic theme is visually appealing and thematic.

Social and Fun: Encourages discussion and deception among players.

Easy to Learn: Quick to grasp, but challenging to master.

Cons

Luck Element: The game’s end is triggered randomly, which can lead to uneven outcomes.

Component Management: Managing the 3×3 grid of cards can be fiddly.

Negative Points Risk: Holding too many unplayed cards can result in significant negative points.

Personal Thoughts on SATANIMALS

SATANIMALS is ideal for those looking for a light-hearted, yet strategically rich card game. It is perfect for both casual gamers and experienced players who enjoy set collection and hand management mechanics. The game’s theme is playful and does not make it unsuitable for children, despite its demonic elements. It serves well as a filler game or a warm-up for more complex games, offering a fun and interactive experience with high replayability.

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