Bahamas (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Bahamas is a bluffing and card game designed by Pierô and released in in 2019. The game is published by Matagot and is designed for 4-8 players, with the ideal player count being 5-6. Players will embark on a journey to the Bahamas, trying to gather treasures and avoid the dangers that come their way.

Game Components of Bahamas

Dice for action selection

Action cards

Cash cards

Character cards with special abilities

Parachute tokens

FBI cards (badge, phone, and handcuffs)

Game board or playing area

How To Setup Bahamas

To set up the game, each player selects a character and receives the corresponding character card. The action deck is shuffled, and the “crash” card is hidden among the bottom five cards. Each player starts with no cash or parachutes. The game begins with the first player drafting a die to perform an action.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Dice Drafting: Players draft one die per turn to perform actions such as drawing action cards, cash cards, or stealing cards from other players.

Take-That: Action cards can be played at any time to disrupt other players.

Character Abilities: Special abilities on character cards can be activated using specific die faces.

Game Objective:

Accumulate as much cash as possible before the plane crashes.

Ensure you have a parachute to win; otherwise, the cash is worthless.

Alternatively, collect the three FBI cards (badge, phone, and handcuffs) to win immediately.

Player Experience

Bahamas offers a fun, thematic experience reminiscent of Reservoir Dogs. The game is light on strategy and heavy on randomness and social interaction. Players engage in trash talk and try to outmaneuver each other while the plane’s impending crash adds tension. The game is best with 6 players to maintain a balance between enjoyment and length.

Pros

Wonderful Theme and Artwork: The game’s theme and artwork by Piero are notable highlights.

Dice Drafting Mechanism: The action selection mechanism using dice is innovative and engaging.

Social Interaction: Great for large groups of casual gamers who enjoy shouting at each other.

Cons

Randomness: The game relies heavily on randomness, minimizing player agency.

Game Length: Can take a bit too long to reach its conclusion, sometimes wearing out its welcome.

Personal Thoughts on Bahamas

Bahamas is a fine casual game, ideal for those who enjoy light, party-style games with a fun theme. It’s perfect for large groups of casual gamers looking for a game that encourages social interaction and doesn’t require deep strategic thinking. However, experienced gamers might find it lacking in depth and strategy. If you’re looking for a game to fill the gap between more serious gaming sessions or to entertain a large group, Bahamas is a good choice.

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