Cosmic Frog (2020) Board Game

Cosmic Frog is a board game that was released in in 2020. It is designed by Tim Barton, Jenna Felli, Chad Hoverter, Tani Pettit, and Naomi Robinson, and features artwork by Devious Weasel Games. The game falls under categories such as Animals, Dice, Fantasy, Fighting, and Miniatures, and includes mechanisms like Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, Layering, Map Reduction, and Pattern Building.

Game Components of Cosmic Frog

Frog Miniatures: Well-sculpted, though only three unique designs are available.

Neoprene Mat: Serves as the game board, representing the Shard and the Aether.

Custom Dice: Used for resolving combat and other interactions.

Land Tiles: Various types, including swamps, mountains, and more, which players collect and store in their vaults.

Oomph Crystals: Represent the game’s economy, used to power up actions.

Ability Cards: Each player has unique, changing abilities that impact combat, raids, and other actions.

Action Deck: Determines the random turn order and includes special cards like Aether Flux and Splinter Strike.

How To Setup Cosmic Frog

To set up **Cosmic Frog**, players begin by placing the Shard tiles on the neoprene mat to form the game board. Each player selects a frog miniature and places it on the board. The action deck is shuffled, and each player is dealt a set of ability cards. The Oomph crystals are distributed, and the game is ready to start. The setup is relatively straightforward, setting the stage for a complex and dynamic game environment.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Random Turn Order: Determined by the action deck, which adds uncertainty to player turns.

Action Selection: Players can choose actions such as leaping, attacking, harvesting tiles, disgorging tiles into their vault, raiding opponents’ vaults, and recovering Oomph.

Combat and Raids: Resolved using custom dice and influenced by players’ special abilities.

Terrain Destruction: Random meteor strikes (Splinter Strikes) can destroy parts of the board, altering gameplay.

Vault Management: Players aim to collect and arrange land tiles in their vaults to score points. Tiles must be contiguous and diverse to maximize scoring.

Game End: The game concludes when the Shard is broken or all terrain tiles are depleted from the board.

Player Experience

Playing **Cosmic Frog** is an immersive and unpredictable experience. The game is marked by its chaotic nature, with random turn orders, changing abilities, and destructive meteor strikes keeping players on their toes. The ability to choose between aggressive and passive strategies adds depth, but the game’s design ensures that conflict is inevitable, making it a thrilling and dynamic experience. Players must balance resource gathering with strategic combat and vault management, all within a visually stunning and thematically unique setting.

Pros

Unique Theme and Artwork: The game features a psychedelic, ’70s-style art aesthetic and an absurdly fun theme of giant, immortal frogs in space.

Deep Strategy: Despite simple basic mechanics, the game offers complex strategic depth through its special abilities and unpredictable events.

High Replayability: Random elements and changing abilities ensure each game is different.

Family-Friendly: Despite its complexity, the game can be enjoyed by children as young as 10 years old, though it may require some initial explanation.

Cons

Learning Curve: The game’s unique mechanics and terminology can be overwhelming for new players.

Limited Frog Designs: Only three unique frog miniatures are available, which might be seen as a minor drawback.

Complex Setup: While the setup is not overly complicated, it does require some time and attention to detail.

Personal Thoughts on Cosmic Frog

**Cosmic Frog** is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of strategy, chaos, and direct player interaction. It is perfect for those who appreciate games with deep mechanics but also value the unpredictability and excitement that comes with random events. This game is not for the faint of heart; it requires players to be adaptable and ready to navigate a constantly changing environment. For fans of take-that-style games and those who enjoy the absurdity of cosmic battles between giant frogs, **Cosmic Frog** is a must-play.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.