Matryoshka (2016) Board Game

Matryoshka is a card game designed by Sérgio Halaban and published by White Goblin Games in in 2016. The game is inspired by the traditional Russian nesting dolls, also known as Matryoshka dolls. Players take on the role of traders trying to collect sets of these dolls in order to score points and win the game.

Game Components of Matryoshka

100 Matryoshka cards

1 Rulebook

How To Setup Matryoshka

Shuffle the Matryoshka cards and deal a hand of 10 cards to each player.

Place the remaining deck in the center of the table to form the draw pile.

Choose a start player and begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

In Matryoshka, players take turns either drawing cards from the draw pile or trading cards with other players to collect sets of Matryoshka dolls. Each set of dolls consists of different colors and sizes, with larger dolls being worth more points. The game ends when the draw pile is empty, and the player with the most points from their collected sets wins the game.

Player Experience

Pros

Quick gameplay, perfect for a casual game night

Simple rules and mechanics make it easy to learn and teach to new players

Engaging theme with beautiful artwork on the cards

Cons

Limited player interaction, as trading is the main form of interaction

Can feel repetitive after multiple plays

Luck of the draw can heavily influence the outcome of the game

Personal Thoughts on Matryoshka

Overall, Matryoshka is a decent card game with a unique theme and beautiful artwork. However, the lack of player interaction and reliance on luck may not appeal to more strategic gamers. The game is priced reasonably and is widely available in both new and used formats. If you enjoy set collection and trading mechanics, Matryoshka may be worth your time. However, if you prefer more strategic gameplay with deeper player interaction, you may want to consider other alternatives in the card game category.

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