Barker’s Row (2018) Board Game

Barker’s Row is a card game released in 2018, designed by Andrea Olgiati and illustrated by Overworld Games. The game is set in a spooky carnival where players compete to attract the best sideshow freaks to their attractions. With a runtime of 25-50 minutes, Barker’s Row is suitable for 2-4 players aged 12 and up.

Game Components of Barker’s Row

3D chipboard grandstands for each player

Barker cards in five suits: Freaks, Beasts, Horrors, Oddities, and Wild

Attraction cards with unique powers

Rube meeples to fill the grandstands

Strongman Tower to track progress

Illustrated cards with artwork by Andrea Olgiati

How To Setup Barker’s Row

To set up Barker’s Row, players first choose their grandstand and place it on the table. The Strongman’s Tower is positioned with colored markers on either side of the number four at the bottom. The Barker cards are placed within reach of all players, with the top three cards drawn and laid face up. Each player is dealt five Attraction cards, from which they select three to keep and discard the others.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Count: 2-4 players

Game Category: Eurogame-style with drafting and set collection mechanics

Age Range: 12+

Objective: Be the first to fill your 13-seat grandstand with Rube meeples.

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Drafting Barker cards from a community pool
– Playing cards into the Midway to increase suit values
– Using Attraction cards to match Midway suit values and claim Rubes
– Each Attraction card has a unique power that can be used once
– Climbing the Strongman Tower increases the difficulty of playing subsequent Attractions

Player Experience

In Barker’s Row, players take on the roles of carnival barkers, competing to attract the most Rubes to their grandstand. The game combines elements of strategy and luck, as players must strategically draft and play Barker cards to match the suits in their hand. The increasing difficulty as players climb the Strongman Tower adds a layer of tension and challenge. The game’s artwork and flavor text, inspired by carnival aesthetics, enhance the immersive experience.

Pros

Engaging Artwork: The Mignola-influenced artwork by Andrea Olgiati adds a dark, pulchritudinous atmosphere.

Unique Powers: Each Attraction card comes with a special power, introducing elements of combo-building and strategic play.

Catch-Up Mechanism: The Strongman Tower’s escalating difficulty helps keep the game competitive until the end.

Easy to Learn: The game is fun and easy to teach and learn.

Cons

Repetitive Turns: Some turns may feel repetitive, involving the same actions of drafting and playing cards.

Luck of the Draw: The game can be influenced significantly by the luck of the draw, which may not appeal to all players.

Limited Innovation: The game mechanics, while well-executed, are not particularly innovative and feel similar to early 2000s Eurogames.

Personal Thoughts on Barker’s Row

Barker’s Row is an excellent choice for those who enjoy light to medium-weight Eurogames with a touch of theme and strategy. It’s suitable for both casual gamers and regular gaming groups, especially those who appreciate the quirky and slightly creepy carnival atmosphere. While it may not offer groundbreaking mechanics, the game’s engaging artwork, unique powers, and competitive nature make it a fun and entertaining addition to any game collection.

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