Ugly Christmas Sweaters (2020) Board Game

The Ugly Christmas Sweaters Board Game was released in 2020 and quickly gained popularity as a fun holiday-themed game for families and friends to enjoy during the festive season. Designed by Brooklin Holbrough and featuring artwork by Hen House Games, this card game is all about collecting the ugliest Christmas sweaters to win the game.

Game Components of Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Card deck featuring left shoulders, right shoulders, and bottoms of sweaters

Each card has a color and a pattern

Special cards: Perfect Fit, Trendy Yarn, and Fad

Secret Santa cards for personal goals

Scoresheet for tracking points

How To Setup Ugly Christmas Sweaters

To set up the game, three special cards are drawn at the start of each round: Perfect Fit, Trendy Yarn, and Fad. The card deck is shuffled, and four cards are dealt face up to the table. Each player receives a hand of 12 cards, from which they draw a hand of 9 cards, leaving the remainder in a draw pile. Each player also gets a Secret Santa card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Card Drafting
– Hand Management
– Set Collection
– Trick-taking

Game Objective:
– Players aim to create the most valuable ugly Christmas sweaters by collecting and assembling sweater pieces.
– Each finished sweater is worth 2 VP.
– Sweaters with three consecutive numbers earn an additional 2 VP.
– Sweaters matching the Fad card criteria score bonus points.
– Sweaters matching the player’s Secret Santa card score 3 VP.
– Players earn 1 VP for matching color or pattern (if not the fad).

Player Experience

**Ugly Christmas Sweaters** is a game that appeals to experienced gamers due to its complexity. The game involves multiple layers of strategy, including two different trump criteria, wild cards, and individual bonuses. This complexity makes it challenging for non-gamers to learn and enjoy. The game is played over three rounds, with each round following a similar pattern, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

Pros

Engaging and challenging gameplay for experienced gamers

Unique theme that fits well with holiday gatherings

Multiple paths to scoring points, adding depth to the game

Includes personal goals through Secret Santa cards

Cons

Highly complex, making it difficult for non-gamers to understand

Long gameplay duration, often closer to 60-75 minutes

Steep learning curve due to multiple mechanics and rules

Personal Thoughts on Ugly Christmas Sweaters

**Ugly Christmas Sweaters** is ideal for gaming groups looking for a themed holiday game that offers a rich and challenging experience. However, it is not suitable for casual family gatherings or non-gamers due to its complexity. If you’re looking for a game to spice up your Christmas-themed game nights with fellow gamers, this could be an excellent choice. Just be prepared to invest time in explaining the rules and ensuring everyone understands the game mechanics.

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