Cacao is a board game designed by Phil Walker-Harding and released in 2015 by ABACUSSPIELE. The game is set in the exotic world of the “fruit of the gods” and players take on the roles of tribal chiefs leading their people to prosperity through the cultivation and trade of cacao beans.
Game Components of Cacao
Player boards: Each player receives a board for tracking cacao fruits, sun worship tokens, and their personal water track.Action tiles: These include cacao plantations, markets, gold mines, watering holes, and sun worshiping sites.Worker tiles: Found on the player boards, these are used to perform actions adjacent to the action tiles.Cacao pods: Representing the fruit of the game.Sun worship tokens: Used for end-game scoring.Gold pieces: The primary currency and scoring mechanism.Water track: A mechanism on the player board that affects end-game scoring.Tile overview sheet: Important for understanding the various tile functions.
How To Setup Cacao
To set up the game, each player starts with a player board and places their worker tiles on it. The action tiles are shuffled and drawn to create the game board. Each player begins with a set amount of gold and a starting position on their water track. The sun worship tokens and cacao pods are placed within reach of all players. The game is ready to start once all components are distributed and the initial tiles are laid out.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Tile Placement: Players place action tiles to create the game board.Worker Placement: Players place their worker tiles adjacent to action tiles to perform actions.Cacao Collection: Workers adjacent to cacao plantations collect cacao pods.Selling Cacao: Cacao pods can be sold at markets for gold.Gold Collection: Workers adjacent to gold mines collect gold pieces.Water Track: Workers at watering holes move their meeple on the water track, affecting end-game scoring.Sun Worship: Workers at sun worshiping sites collect sun worship tokens, which are used for end-game scoring.Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most gold by the end of the game through these various mechanisms.
Player Experience
**Cacao** offers a light and approachable gaming experience, making it accessible to new players while still providing some strategic depth. The game is often compared to **Carcassonne**, but it is generally considered to be less complex and more balanced. Players must optimize their tile placements and worker actions to maximize their gold earnings. The game’s design ensures that scores are often close, making it a friendly and competitive experience.
Pros
Easy to Learn: The game rules are simple, and a rules explanation typically takes less than three minutes.Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, the game offers interesting decision-making and optimization challenges.Balanced Mechanics: The different scoring mechanisms are well-balanced, ensuring a competitive but not overly complex game.Friendly Competition: No player can be completely disadvantaged, and new players have a fair chance of winning.
Cons
Lack of Depth for Veterans: Experienced players, especially those familiar with **Carcassonne**, might find **Cacao** too light and lacking in depth.Repetitive Board Layout: The game board can feel repetitive and less unique compared to other tile-laying games.Close Scores: While balanced, the game can result in very close scores, which might not appeal to players seeking more variance.
Personal Thoughts on Cacao
**Cacao** is an excellent choice for players looking for a light, family-friendly strategy game. It is ideal for those new to board games or seeking a more relaxed gaming experience. However, for veterans of more complex games like **Carcassonne**, **Cacao** might not offer the depth and complexity they are looking for. The game’s balanced design and easy-to-learn rules make it a great addition to any game collection, especially for those who enjoy tile-laying and worker placement mechanics.
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