Mountain Goats (2010) Board Game

Mountain Goats is an abstract strategy board game released in 2010 by designer Stefan Risthaus. The game is published by BoardGameTables.com and features artwork by Anca Gavril, Dennis Lohausen, and Daniel Profiri. It is a game that combines elements of dice rolling, set collection, and track movement, making it a unique and engaging experience for players.

Game Components of Mountain Goats

6 Mountain cards: Each with a stack of point tokens, decreasing by one token for each successive mountain.

Point tokens: 12 tokens for Mountain 5, and one less token for each lower mountain.

4 Bonus Point tokens: Worth 15, 12, 9, and 6 points.

6 Goats per player: Represented by wooden goat meeples.

4 Dice: Used for moving goats up the mountains.

Big Mountain expansion: Allows for additional strategy and a fifth player.

How To Setup Mountain Goats

To set up the game, stack the Point tokens above each mountain card, with each number card below its peak. Place the Bonus tokens off to the side. Each player receives six goats and assigns one goat to each of the six mountains. The starting player is given the four dice.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll four dice to move their goats up the mountains.

Set Collection: The goal is to earn the most points by collecting tokens from the mountains and Bonus tokens.

King of the Hill: Goats can share spaces except at the top of the mountain, where only one goat can stay.

Game Objective: Move goats to the top of mountains to collect point tokens. Collect a set of one token from each mountain to earn the highest Bonus token available.

Player Experience

Mountain Goats is a family-friendly game that balances strategy and chance. Players must carefully decide how to combine their dice rolls to move their goats effectively, while also keeping an eye on their opponents to prevent them from scoring. The game is quick to play, lasting about 20 minutes, and is easy to learn and set up.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to players of all ages.

Fast Gameplay: Games are typically 20 minutes long.

Strategic Depth: Requires planning and attention to opponents’ moves.

Engaging Theme: The theme of goats climbing mountains adds a fun and thematic element.

High-Quality Components: Wooden goat meeples and good-quality artwork.

Cons

Limited Complexity for Adults: Some adults find the game too simple and boring.

Instruction Clarity: Some instructions can be ambiguous and hard to understand.

Space on the Table: Despite the compact box, the game takes up more space on the table than expected.

Personal Thoughts on Mountain Goats

Mountain Goats is an excellent choice for families and casual gamers who enjoy light-hearted, strategic games. It is particularly suited for children aged 7 and up due to its simplicity and engaging theme. While it may not offer enough complexity for experienced adult gamers, it serves as a great introduction to dice rolling and set collection mechanics. The addition of the Big Mountain expansion can add more depth for those looking for extra challenge.

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