Calico (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Calico is a board game released in 2020 by Flatout Games. It is designed by Kevin Russ and features beautiful artwork by Beth Sobel. The game falls under the categories of Animals and Puzzle, and it is suitable for players aged 10 and above. With a runtime of 30-45 minutes, Calico is a great choice for 1-4 players, with 2 players being the ideal number for the best experience.

Game Components of Calico

Quilt Boards: Each player has a double-thick player board.

Pattern Tiles: 108 tiles, each with one of six colors and one of six patterns, resulting in 36 unique combinations.

Cat Scoring Tiles: Randomly chosen to set objectives for attracting cats.

Cat Tokens: Used to mark attracted cats on the quilt.

Button Tokens: Placed on groups of three identical pattern tiles.

Button Scoring Tile: Guides button placement and scoring.

Design Goal Tiles: Three randomly selected tiles per player for personal objectives.

How To Setup Calico

To set up Calico, start by separating the cat scoring tiles based on the number of dots on their bottom right corner and randomly choose one tile from each category. Each player selects a quilt board and six design goal tiles, choosing three to use and placing them face up on their board. Button tokens and the button scoring tile are placed in the middle of the table. All pattern tiles are shuffled in a bag, and three tiles are randomly revealed to form the tile market. Each player draws two pattern tiles to start their turn.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place one pattern tile from their hand onto an empty hex space on their quilt board.

Tile Drafting: After placement, players draw a new tile from the market and replenish the market with a new tile from the bag.

Scoring Objectives: Players aim to complete their three design goal tiles, attract cats by creating specific pattern combinations, and place buttons on groups of three identical pattern tiles.

Cat Attraction: Cats are attracted to specific pattern combinations as indicated on the cat scoring tiles.

Button Placement: Buttons are placed on groups of three identical pattern tiles, scoring three points each.

Game End: The game ends when all players have filled their quilt boards. Points are tallied from completed design goals, attracted cats, and buttons.

Player Experience

Calico is a game that offers a simple turn structure but a complex and mentally taxing puzzle. Players must strategically place tiles to meet their objectives while also competing to attract cats and place buttons. The game is easy to teach but difficult to master, making it appealing to players who enjoy a good puzzle. However, it can lead to analysis paralysis due to the numerous strategic decisions involved.

Pros

Engaging Puzzle: Offers a challenging yet rewarding puzzle to solve.

Visually Appealing: Beautifully produced with cute and warm theme.

Simple Rules: Easy to learn, with a clear and simple ruleset.

Variety in Gameplay: Randomized scoring conditions and cat attractions provide varied gameplay experiences.

Family Mode: Includes a simpler mode for younger or newer players.

Cons

Limited Interaction: Players have minimal direct interaction with each other.

Repetitive Puzzle: Some players may find the puzzle repetitive, as the objectives have a familiar feel each game.

Personal Thoughts on Calico

Calico is ideal for players who love puzzles and strategic planning. It appeals to those who enjoy games like Azul, where the goal is to create a visually pleasing and strategically sound outcome. The game’s cute theme and simple rules make it accessible to a wide range of players, but its depth and complexity will particularly appeal to experienced board game enthusiasts. It is a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who enjoy mentally taxing but aesthetically pleasing games.

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