Canvas (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Canvas is a board game released in 2021 designed by Jeff Chin and Andrew Nerger, with artwork by Luan Huynh. Published by Road To Infamy Games, it falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Card Game, and Puzzle. The game is designed for 1-5 players, with a recommended age of 10 and up, and has a playtime of around 30 minutes.

Game Components of Canvas

Art Cards: Transparent cards with sections of paintings, featuring Element Icons and Color Swatches at the bottom.

Background Cards: Used to create the base of the paintings, which must be sleeved.

Plastic Sleeves: For housing the finished paintings.

Felt Play Mat: Keeps components organized on the table.

Scoring Cards: Define the scoring criteria for each game.

Imagination Tokens: Used to select Art Cards from the market.

Easels: For displaying the finished paintings.

Ribbon Tokens: Awarded for meeting scoring criteria.

How To Setup Canvas

To set up Canvas, players start by randomly selecting four Scoring Cards that outline the artistic goals for the game. Each player receives three plastic sleeves and three background cards, which are then sleeved. The Art Cards are shuffled and placed back into their box, and a starting market of five Art Cards is laid out. Players also receive their imagination tokens and the ribbons are placed into separate piles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Hand Management: Players manage their Art Cards and imagination tokens.

Layering: Overlapping clear Art Cards to create paintings.

Open Drafting: Selecting cards from a market where the left-most card is free, and subsequent cards cost one imagination token each.

Game Objective

Each player aims to create three paintings by selecting and layering Art Cards to maximize scoring based on the Scoring Cards.

Players can either take an Art Card from the market or build a painting using three Art Cards.

If a player has five Art Cards, they must build a painting on their next turn.

The game ends when all players have built three paintings, and the player with the most points from the ribbons wins.

Player Experience

Canvas offers a visually stunning and engaging experience, with beautiful components and a unique gameplay mechanic. The game starts out as a fun and creative activity but quickly becomes a challenging puzzle as players focus on meeting the scoring objectives. The transparent Art Cards allow for endless combinations, making each painting unique and visually appealing. However, the game’s depth lies in the strategic management of imagination tokens and the careful selection of Art Cards to meet the scoring criteria.

Pros

Beautiful Components: The game features clear Art Cards, felt play mat, and other components that are aesthetically pleasing.

Unique Mechanics: The layering of transparent cards and the use of imagination tokens add a novel twist to the gameplay.

Solo and Cooperative Modes: Includes two solo modes and the potential for cooperative play, extending its appeal to a wider audience.

Cons

Luck of the Draw: The game can be heavily influenced by the cards available in the market.

Complexity in Scoring: Focusing on the symbols and scoring objectives can make the game more about puzzle-solving than creativity.

Component Protection: The protective film on the Art Cards can show wear over time.

Personal Thoughts on Canvas

Canvas is ideal for players who enjoy light, yet strategically challenging games with unique mechanics. It is perfect for those who appreciate aesthetic components and are willing to engage in a brain-burning puzzle. While it may appeal to art enthusiasts at first glance, it ultimately becomes an abstract game of symbol management. It is a great addition to any collection for its innovative design and the joy of creating visually stunning paintings, even if the creative aspect gives way to strategic thinking as the game progresses.

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