Águeda: City of Umbrellas (2024) Board Game

Águeda: City of Umbrellas is a unique card game that is set in the picturesque town of Águeda, Portugal, known for its colorful umbrellas decorating the streets. Designed by Dustin Dobson and Milan Zivkovic, this game captures the essence of the town’s beauty and charm.

Game Components of Águeda: City of Umbrellas

Player street boards: Each player has their own board to arrange umbrellas.

Umbrella tiles: Drafted from a central board to decorate the streets.

Tourist cards: Moved into the rows of umbrellas to score points.

Shop cards: Provide varying scoring objectives.

Tourist maps: Unlock sections to add more tourists.

Coins: Available in metal (Deluxe Edition) or cardboard (Standard Edition).

English and Portuguese language support: Included in both editions.

How To Setup Águeda: City of Umbrellas

To set up the game, each player receives a player street board and a set of tourist cards. The umbrella tiles are placed on the central board. Shop cards and tourist maps are shuffled and prepared according to the game’s instructions. Players start by drafting umbrella tiles to begin decorating their streets.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile drafting: Players draft umbrella tiles from the central board.

Placement: Tiles are placed in rows on the player’s street board.

Tourist movement: Players select and move tourist cards into the rows of umbrellas.

Scoring: Points are scored based on the placement of umbrellas and the fulfillment of Shop card objectives.

Objective: The goal is to create the most stunning arrangement of umbrellas to attract the most tourists and score the highest points.

Player Experience

In **Águeda: City of Umbrellas**, players take on the role of festival artists, balancing the requests of the city, shops, and tourists to decorate the streets. The game requires strategic thinking and careful placement of umbrellas to unlock sections of the tourist map and maximize scoring opportunities. The game’s colorful and festive theme adds to the fun and engaging experience.

Pros

Family-friendly: Suitable for ages 10 and above.

Variable setup: Ensures different experiences each game.

Short playtime: Games typically last between 20-40 minutes.

Collaboration with Umbrella Sky Project: Adds authenticity and cultural significance.

Beautiful artwork: Inspired by the real-life festival.

Cons

Limited depth for advanced gamers: May not offer enough complexity for experienced players.

Randomness in tile drafting: Can lead to luck-based outcomes.

Personal Thoughts on Águeda: City of Umbrellas

**Águeda: City of Umbrellas** is ideal for families, casual gamers, and those who enjoy light to medium-weight strategy games. The game’s theme and mechanics make it a great introduction to more complex games, while its short playtime and colorful visuals ensure an enjoyable experience for players of various skill levels. However, it may not be the best fit for gamers seeking deep, complex strategies.

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