Cardline: Animals (2012) Board Game

Cardline: Animals is a card game released in 2012 by Frédéric Henry and published by Asmodee. The game is designed to be educational, fun, and suitable for players aged 7 and up. With a focus on animals, players must use their knowledge to place cards in the correct order based on the animal’s characteristics.

Game Components of Cardline: Animals

Approximately 100 cards, each depicting an animal, its name, and its class (amphibian, mammal, etc.).

Each card shows the animal’s average length, weight, and lifespan on one side.

How To Setup Cardline: Animals

Players decide which characteristic to rank the animals by: length, weight, or lifespan. The cards are shuffled, and each player is dealt four cards with the characteristics side face down. The remaining cards form the draw pile, also face down. The first card from the draw pile is placed in the middle of the table with its characteristics side face up to serve as the initial card. Players then choose who starts the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics:
– Players take turns placing a card from their hand into a row on the table.
– The card must be placed according to the chosen characteristic (length, weight, or lifespan) in numerical order.
– Correctly placed cards stay in the row; incorrectly placed cards are removed and the player draws a new card.

Game Objective:
– The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.
– If multiple players go out in the same round, they play an additional round; the last player remaining wins.

Player Experience

**Cardline: Animals** starts off easy but becomes increasingly difficult as more cards are added to the line. The initial plays are straightforward due to large gaps in the card line, but as the game progresses, the gaps narrow, making each placement more challenging. The game relies on a mix of strategy and luck, as the cards in your hand can significantly affect your ability to place them correctly. This balance makes the game accessible to younger players who love animals, yet still engaging for older players who enjoy a challenge.

Pros

Easy to Learn: The game mechanics are simple and can be taught in just a minute or two.

Educational: Players learn about various animals and their characteristics.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 7+ and enjoyable for both children and adults.

Engaging: The game becomes progressively more challenging as it advances.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: The cards you draw can significantly impact your chances of winning.

Repetitive: Some players might find the repetitive nature of placing cards in order to be less exciting after multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Cardline: Animals

**Cardline: Animals** is an excellent choice for families and classrooms looking to combine fun with learning. It is particularly appealing to children who are enthusiastic about animals, as it introduces them to a wide variety of species while teaching them about different characteristics. For adults, it offers a light-hearted yet challenging experience that is easy to pick up but hard to master. The game’s simplicity and educational value make it a great addition to any game collection.

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