Costa Rica (2016) Board Game

Costa Rica is a board game that was released in 2016 by Lookout Games. Designed by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert, the game is set in the beautiful country of Costa Rica, known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. Players take on the role of explorers, trying to discover and collect different species of animals in the rainforest.

Game Components of Costa Rica

Game board featuring the rainforests of Costa Rica

Player tokens and character cards

Animal cards representing various exotic animals

Camera tokens for taking photos

Scorepad and scoring tokens

Rulebook

How To Setup Costa Rica

To set up the game, each player chooses a character card and places their token on the starting location on the board. Shuffle and deal a set number of animal cards, which are placed face down on designated spaces on the board. Each player receives a camera token. The remaining components, such as scoring tokens and the rulebook, are made accessible to all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Movement: Players move their tokens through the rainforest.

Set Collection: Players collect sets of animal cards to take photos.

Hand Management: Players manage their hand of animal cards to maximize their score.

Objective: The goal is to collect and take photos of the most valuable sets of animals, saving them from danger.

Player Experience

Players embark on an immersive journey through the lush jungles of Costa Rica, taking on the roles of expedition members. The game combines strategic planning with a touch of luck, as players navigate the rainforest to find and photograph rare animals. The experience is both educational and entertaining, introducing players to various exotic species.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The jungle exploration theme is engaging and educational.

Easy to Learn: The rules are straightforward, making it accessible to younger players.

Replayability: The random placement of animal cards ensures each game is different.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and above, making it a great family game.

Cons

Limited Complexity: The game mechanics may be too simple for experienced gamers.

Luck Factor: The random draw of animal cards can significantly influence the game’s outcome.

Component Quality: Some players have noted that the component quality could be improved.

Personal Thoughts on Costa Rica

**Costa Rica** is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy light to medium-weight games. It is a great introduction to board games for younger players due to its simple mechanics and engaging theme. However, experienced gamers might find it too straightforward and lacking in complexity. Overall, it’s a fun and educational game that brings the excitement of jungle exploration to your table.

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