Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo (2015) Board Game

Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo is a board game released in 2015 by Broadway Toys LTD. It is designed by Jürgen P. Grunau, Wolfgang Kramer, and Hans Raggan, with artwork by Eva Czerwenka. The game falls under the categories of Action/Dexterity, Adventure, and Children’s Game, making it suitable for players aged 7 and up.

Game Components of Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo

Board: A beautifully illustrated board depicting the inside and outside of a pyramid.

Boulder Tiles: Small tiles with different colors that must be pulled from a snake trap bowl.

Snake Trap Bowl: A bowl containing the boulder tiles and a Pharaoh’s staff.

Pharaoh’s Staff: A delicate stick that must not be knocked over while pulling boulders.

Scarab Tokens: Tokens needed to break the curse.

Player Tokens: Tokens representing the players’ adventurers.

Hieroglyphic Markers: Markers with boulder colors guiding players through the pyramid.

How To Setup Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo

To set up the game, place the board in the middle of the playing area. Distribute the boulder tiles face down along the path on the board. Each player chooses an adventurer token and places it at the starting tile. Fill the snake trap bowl with the colored boulders and place the Pharaoh’s staff in the center.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Exploration Phase: Players decide to either flip over an unexposed boulder tile or choose a color to pull from the snake trap.

Movement Phase: If the player successfully pulls the boulder without causing a landslide, they move their adventurer to the next space with the corresponding color. If they fail, they move back to the starting tile or the pyramid entrance.

Objective: The goal is to collect two scarab tokens and reach the tomb. There, players must pull two specific boulders from the trap to break the curse and win the game.

Player Experience

Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo levels the playing field with its dexterity mechanics, making it challenging for players of all ages. Adults often struggle with the small size of the boulders and bowl, requiring a mix of strategy and fine motor skills. The game is quick-paced, even with six players, but failing to remove the boulders at the final stage can be devastating, especially for younger players.

Pros

High-Quality Components: HABA is known for its excellent component quality, and this game is no exception.

Engaging Artwork: The board and components feature detailed and engaging artwork.

Quick Gameplay: The game does not bog down even with the maximum number of players.

Accessible to Younger Players: Includes a variation for players as young as 5.

Cons

Frustrating Failure Mechanic: Failing to remove the boulders at the final stage sends players back to the start, which can be discouraging.

Delicate Mechanics: The small size of the boulders and bowl makes the game challenging, especially for adults.

Personal Thoughts on Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo

Pharaoh’s Gulo Gulo is an excellent choice for families and groups looking for a fun, interactive game that combines strategy and dexterity. It is particularly suited for children due to its accessible mechanics and engaging theme, though it also provides a challenging experience for adults. However, the game’s punishing failure mechanic may need some adjustment or rule tweaks to make it more enjoyable for younger players.

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