Board Game Cafe Frenzy (2019) Board Game

Board Game Cafe Frenzy is a card game designed by Citie Lo and published by The Wood Games in in 2019. It is a fun and engaging game that combines elements of auction/bidding, trick-taking, and worker placement mechanics. The game is suitable for 2 to 5 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above.

Game Components of Board Game Cafe Frenzy

Cards (Meal, Board Game, Wi-Fi, Employee, Storefront)

Marketplace Tokens

Action Discs

Action Tiles

Customer cards

Cafe bonus cards

Embossed meeples on the cover

How To Setup Board Game Cafe Frenzy

To set up the game, you start by revealing cards equal to the number of players and placing them below the Marketplace Tokens. These cards are then sorted from highest to lowest value. Each player must purchase one card per turn during the Preparation phase, paying the cost shown on the Marketplace Token.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Phases: The game is divided into two phases – Preparation (10 rounds) and Store Opening (10 rounds).

Card Collection: Players collect cards during the Preparation phase, each with specific rewards or actions.

Meal (Pink): No reward.

Board Game (Orange): No reward.

Wi-Fi (Blue): No reward.

Employee (Yellow): Take an action disc.

Storefront (Green): Take an action tile.

Trick-Taking: During the Store Opening phase, players must play cards of different types. The player who plays the highest card sets the turn order.

Rewards:

Meal / Board Game: Gain 1 coin.

Wi-Fi: Gain 1 Wi-Fi icon.

Employee: Take an action disc.

Storefront: Increase store capacity by 1.

Capacity and Customers: Manage store capacity and fulfill customer requirements to score points.

Action Discs and Employee Wages: Unused action discs earn coins, while employees must be paid.

Game Objective: The player with the most coins at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

In Board Game Cafe Frenzy, you are an aspiring restaurateur competing against rivals to build the most lucrative board game cafe. The game is vibrant and colorful, with a fantastic art style and embossed meeples on the cover. Players enjoy the strategic depth of building their cafe, managing resources, and fulfilling customer demands. The trick-taking mechanic adds a layer of unpredictability, making each game unique.

Pros

Engaging Theme: Who wouldn’t want to build a board game cafe?

Bright and Colorful: Fantastic color scheme and art style.

Strategic Depth: Combines card collection, trick-taking, and resource management.

Replayability: Different card combinations and customer demands ensure varied gameplay.

Fun Easter Eggs: Includes references to previous games, like the Neko Cafe.

Cons

Complex Setup: Initial setup can be a bit complex due to the sorting and purchasing of cards.

Limited Game Choices: You cannot choose the specific board games to stock in your cafe.

Employee Wages: Managing employee costs can be a challenge.

Personal Thoughts on Board Game Cafe Frenzy

Board Game Cafe Frenzy is perfect for fans of strategic card games and those who enjoy the theme of building and managing their own business. It’s a great game for groups looking for a mix of strategy and social interaction. While it may appeal more to experienced gamers due to its complexity, the colorful and upbeat design makes it inviting for new players as well. If you enjoy tactical gameplay and the idea of running your own unique cafe, this game is definitely worth checking out.

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