Adventure Mart (2020) Board Game

Adventure Mart is a board game released in 2020, designed by Stefanie Bollen and Moniek Schilder. The game is published by Hub Games and falls under the categories of card game, economic, and fantasy. With a playing time of 45-60 minutes, Adventure Mart is suitable for 2-4 players aged 10 and above. The game features auction/bidding and deck, bag, and pool building mechanisms, providing players with a unique and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Adventure Mart

Deck of stock items

Adventurer cards

Staff cards

Store fixtures

Gold tokens

Star rating tokens

Basic deck of ten stock items for each player

How To Setup Adventure Mart

To set up Adventure Mart, each player starts with a basic deck of ten stock items. The game area is prepared by laying out face-up rows of stock items, staff, and store fixtures. Players draw five cards from their deck at the start of each turn. The face-down row of adventurer cards is also set up, ready for players to draw and auction to.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck-building: Players can buy new stock items, staff, and fixtures to enhance their deck.

Auction: Players bid on adventurers by offering them stock items that match the adventurer’s needs, using the star ratings of the items to outbid others.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most points (gold) by successfully selling stock to adventurers while managing the value and star rating of the items.

Special Powers: Some cards have special abilities, such as staff cards that can sabotage other players or fixtures that allow for additional card draws.

Economic Management: Players must balance the cost of acquiring new stock and staff against the potential rewards from selling to adventurers.

Player Experience

Adventure Mart offers a dynamic and quirky gameplay experience. The game’s art style, featuring cute, chibi-style characters and detailed illustrations, adds to its charm. Players must constantly reassess the value of their stock and the risks involved in bidding for adventurers, as the game state changes rapidly. The interlocking concepts of deck-building, auctions, and economic management create a sense of innovation and strategic depth.

Pros

Engaging Art Style: The game features delightful, character-rich art that enhances the player experience.

Strategic Depth: The combination of deck-building, auctions, and special card abilities provides a lot of strategic leverage.

Dynamic Gameplay: The random selection of adventurers and stock items ensures each game is unique.

Family-Friendly: Designed to be accessible to both new and experienced players.

Cons

No Power Curve: The game lacks a gradual increase in power, which can lead to unsatisfying moments when high-value items are sold for low returns.

Randomness: The random selection of adventurers and stock can make the game feel somewhat unpredictable and less controlled.

Complexity: The multiple mechanics and card effects can make the game feel piecemeal and complex to new players.

Personal Thoughts on Adventure Mart

Adventure Mart is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of strategy and unpredictability. It is particularly suited for families and casual gamers due to its accessible gameplay, but it also offers enough depth for seasoned players to appreciate. The game’s quirky charm and dynamic mechanics make it a great addition to any game collection, appealing to both strategic shoppers and first-time family buyers.

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