Chocolate Factory (2019) Board Game

Chocolate Factory is a board game designed by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert, and published by Alley Cat Games in in 2019. The game puts players in the role of chocolate factory owners, where they must manage their production lines efficiently to create the most delicious chocolates and earn the most profit.

Game Components of Chocolate Factory

Wooden chocolate pieces

Movable conveyor belt

Factory parts and player boards

Coal tokens

Employee and Department Store cards

Corner Shop and Department Store boards

Wooden conveyor tiles

How To Setup Chocolate Factory

To set up the game, each player starts with a starting player board equipped with two initial Factory parts and a conveyer belt. Players draft new factory parts and employee cards at the beginning of each round. The game board includes spaces for Corner Shops and Department Stores, where players will fulfill orders. Each player receives a set amount of coal to run their factory, and the conveyer belt is prepared for the cocoa beans to be processed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players draft factory parts and employee cards at the start of each round.

Engine Building: Players expand and upgrade their factory using drafted parts.

Pick up and Deliver: Players process cocoa beans through their factory and deliver finished chocolates to Corner Shops and Department Stores.

Resource Management: Players manage coal to activate factory parts.

Objective: The goal is to earn the most money by fulfilling orders and selling chocolates efficiently.

Player Experience

Playing Chocolate Factory feels like a puzzle where you need to optimize your factory setup and manage resources carefully. The game involves simultaneous shifts where players push cocoa beans through their factory, using coal to activate various factory parts to transform the beans into different chocolate products. The game has a tactile appeal with its wooden pieces and movable conveyor belt, adding a fun and satisfying element to the gameplay. However, the game can sometimes feel like a solo experience due to the limited direct interaction between players, which is mainly confined to the drafting phase.

Pros

Tactile Experience: The wooden chocolate pieces and movable conveyor belt make the game engaging and fun.

Strategic Depth: The game requires careful planning and resource management.

Retro Aesthetic: The artwork has an old-style advertisement quality that adds to the game’s charm.

Variety in Objectives: Players can choose between fulfilling orders at Corner Shops and Department Stores, offering different strategies.

Cons

Solitary Feel: The game can feel somewhat solitary as most of the gameplay is focused on individual factory management.

Board Warping: Some players have reported minor warping of the boards, though this does not significantly impede gameplay.

Small Corner Store Cards: The corner store cards are a bit small, making it slightly difficult to place tokens on them.

Personal Thoughts on Chocolate Factory

Chocolate Factory is ideal for fans of euro games and those who enjoy engine-building and resource management mechanics. It is suitable for players aged 10 and above and supports 1-4 players, with a playtime of 45-90 minutes. This game is perfect for those who appreciate a mix of strategic planning and tactile gameplay, and it offers a unique and engaging experience with its conveyor belt mechanism and wooden components. However, players seeking high levels of direct interaction may find it less appealing.

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