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Healthy Heart Hospital (2015) Board Game

ByMichail

Healthy Heart Hospital is a cooperative board game that was released in in 2015. Designed by Chelsea Autio and published by Victory Point Games, it falls under the categories of Economic and Medical simulation games. The game is designed for 1-5 players, with a runtime of 60-90 minutes and is recommended for ages 13 and above.

Game Components of Healthy Heart Hospital

  • Player Boards:** Each player has a doctor card with two special powers.
  • Administrator Card:** Grants special abilities, hiring staff, and conducting research.
  • Patient Discs and Cubes:** Represent patients in wards and the waiting room.
  • Hospital Board:** Divided into wards, administrative area, and a cemetery.
  • Action Tokens:** Track actions taken by doctors and administrators.
  • Room Cards:** Provide benefits when added to the hospital.
  • Research Cards:** Offer various improvements and training.

    How To Setup Healthy Heart Hospital

    To set up Healthy Heart Hospital, players first prepare the hospital board by dividing it into the wards, administrative area, and the cemetery. Each player selects a doctor card, which includes two special powers. The administrator card is also assigned, with its special abilities and action tokens. Patients are represented by discs in the wards and cubes in the waiting room. The game is ready to start once all components are placed according to the rules, which are easy to follow and result in a quick setup.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Cooperative Play:** 1-5 players work together to manage the hospital.
  • Rounds:** The game spans six rounds.
  • Actions:** Each doctor gets two actions per round to heal or transfer patients.
  • Administrator Actions:** Special powers, hiring staff, and conducting research.
  • Patient Phase:** Patients in critical treatment rooms and ER can die; new cubes are drawn for the waiting room.
  • Objective:** Keep the hospital financially stable and ensure there is space for dead bodies.
    – The game ends if the hospital runs out of money or space for dead bodies.
    – At the end of six rounds, players check the high-score track based on the remaining money.

    Player Experience

    Playing Healthy Heart Hospital involves a blend of strategy and luck. Players must manage the care of patients, balance the hospital’s finances, and ensure there is enough space for patients and any resulting dead bodies. The game is known for its randomness, particularly in drawing cubes to heal patients, which can lead to unexpected patient deaths despite careful planning. Solo play is viable, allowing players to manage multiple doctors, and the game generally lasts about 45 minutes.

    Pros

  • Easy Setup:** Setup and teardown are quick and straightforward.
  • Variety:** Includes 14 doctor cards and various room cards, offering different abilities and benefits.
  • Tongue-in-Cheek Theme:** The game has a humorous take on running a hospital, appealing to fans of hospital dramas and sitcoms.
  • Customizable Solo Play:** Allows solo players to manage multiple doctors.

    Cons

  • Randomness:** The game’s reliance on cube draws can make it unpredictable and sometimes frustrating.
  • Limited Character Diversity:** The third edition has been criticized for lacking diversity among the doctor and administrator cards.
  • Potential for Quick Losses:** The game can end abruptly if the hospital runs out of money or space for dead bodies.

    Personal Thoughts on Healthy Heart Hospital

    Healthy Heart Hospital is ideal for those who enjoy cooperative games with a mix of strategy and luck. It is particularly appealing to fans of hospital-themed TV shows and sitcoms due to its tongue-in-cheek approach. While it offers a fun and challenging experience, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a purely strategic game due to its random elements. The game’s ease of setup and varied gameplay make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those looking for a cooperative challenge.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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