Atiwa (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Atiwa is a board game released in 2022 by Lookout Games and designed by renowned designer Uwe Rosenberg. The game is set in a beautiful natural environment and focuses on themes of animals, farming, and environmental conservation. With a playtime of 30-120 minutes, Atiwa is suitable for 1-4 players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Atiwa

1 game board

1 board extension

4 player boards

6 action tiles

44 tiles

40 gold tokens

1 starting player token

200 wooden parts

88 cards

1 score pad

1 cloth bag

1 rule book

Pollution tokens

Terrain cards

Location cards (Farmstead, Settlement, Village, Town)

Fruit bat, tree, and other themed meeples.

How To Setup Atiwa

To set up Atiwa, place the main action board on the table and attach the board extension based on the player count. Shuffle and place the action tiles in their rightmost positions on the board. The Terrain cards are shuffled and a number of them are revealed and placed face up above the action board. The Location cards are placed in stacks beneath their matching locations on the board. Each player receives a supply board and fills it with their initial trees, fruit, families, animals, and goats. Players also get a Village card and three worker meeples. The night card and player aid cards are placed nearby.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Each player has three workers to place per round to perform various actions.

Action Tiles: Each tile represents a dual action, with one action shown on the tile and another pre-printed action beneath it.

Fruit Bat Actions: If a player has three or more fruit bats, they can use these to grow new trees during the night phase.

Resource Management: Players manage trees, fruit, bats, families, and other resources.

Community Development: Players develop their village by adding new families, housing, and managing the environment.

Game Objective: The player who best balances community needs and environmental considerations wins by scoring the most victory points over seven rounds.

Player Experience

Atiwa offers a dynamic and strategic experience with tight decision-making. With only three workers per round, players must carefully choose which actions to prioritize. The game’s mechanics create a cycle of growth and resource management, where trees grow fruit, bats eat fruit and spread seeds, and families expand and consume resources. The clear iconography and streamlined gameplay make it accessible even to new players, while the depth of strategy keeps experienced players engaged.

Pros

Accessible Gameplay: Easy to learn and teach, even for those new to worker-placement games.

Strategic Depth: Tight decision space and resource management challenges.

Engaging Theme: Unique and educational focus on the role of fruit bats in reforestation.

High-Quality Components: Attractive and well-designed components, including adorable bat meeples.

Excellent Solo Mode: Challenging and rewarding solo play experience.

Cons

Limited Worker Actions: Only three workers per round can make some rounds feel restrictive.

High Dependency on Timing: Turn order and action timing are crucial, which can be challenging to manage.

Random Elements: The random deal of initial landscape cards can affect gameplay strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Atiwa

Atiwa is ideal for fans of worker-placement games looking for a lighter yet still challenging experience. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate strategic resource management and environmental themes. The game’s accessibility makes it a great introduction to Uwe Rosenberg’s games for new players, while its depth ensures it remains engaging for veterans of the genre. If you’re looking for a game that combines charm, strategy, and a unique theme, Atiwa is an excellent choice.

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