Big Easy Busking (2020) Board Game

Big Easy Busking is a card game released in 2020, designed by Adrienne Ezell and Andrew Thompson. The game is published by Weird Giraffe Games and falls under the categories of Card Game and Music. Players take on the roles of street musicians in New Orleans, competing to earn the most tips and become the top busker in the city.

Game Components of Big Easy Busking

Band cards: Each player has a band card with 3 musicians (sax player, drummer, trumpeter).

Energy cubes: 4 energy cubes per musician, plus 3 extra.

City block cards: Representing the city, with additional blocks added each round.

Mood tokens: Heart, Bead, Mask, or Tambourines, randomly selected for each city block.

Song cards: 3 unique songs per player and 3 standard songs available to all.

Market songs: Additional songs that can be purchased for future rounds.

Money: Used for bonuses and purchasing songs.

How To Setup Big Easy Busking

Setup is quick and straightforward. Players start with 3 city block cards, each with a randomly assigned mood token. Each player receives a band card with 3 musicians, each starting with 4 energy cubes, and 3 extra energy cubes. Players also get their unique song cards and have access to the standard songs. The game is ready to play in just a few moments.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Control: Players compete to control the crowd’s mood by matching their songs to the city blocks’ moods.

Resource Management: Manage energy cubes to play songs.

Song Selection: Choose songs from your hand or the standard songs, and optionally purchase new songs from the market.

Round Structure: Each round involves finishing the previous song, redistributing energy, and scoring.

Scoring: The player with the most energy/mood matching a crowd on a city block gets the bonus marked on the card.

Game Duration: The game lasts 3 rounds, with each round introducing a new city block.

Player Experience

Big Easy Busking offers a blend of strategic depth and beautiful visuals. The game is low in complexity but rich in strategy, especially with more players. The solo version includes automata, but the game shines best with multiple players. Setup is quick, and the game’s average playtime is about 45 minutes. The art is vibrant, making the game a pleasure to look at and play[4%.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, the game offers a lot of strategic choices.

Beautiful Art: The game’s artwork is gorgeous and engaging.

Quick Setup: Setup is fast and easy.

Multiple Player Options: Supports 1-5 players, including a solo mode.

Unique Theme: A fresh take on the area control genre with a street musician theme[4%.

Cons

Limited Songs: The number of available songs is limited, which can be repetitive.

Few Market Actions: There are not many special actions available through market songs[4%.

Personal Thoughts on Big Easy Busking

Big Easy Busking is perfect for those looking for a fun, yet strategically engaging game that doesn’t require a huge time commitment. It’s ideal for fans of area control games and those who appreciate a unique theme. The game’s beauty and simplicity make it accessible to new players, while its depth will keep experienced gamers interested. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy with a lively atmosphere, Big Easy Busking is definitely worth checking out.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.