Clouds (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Clouds is a pattern-building board game released in 2018 by designer Grégory Oliver and artist Carine Hinder. Published by Blue Orange in the EU, the game is suitable for 2-5 players aged 4 and above. Clouds falls under the category of pattern-building games and is known for its quick gameplay and family-friendly mechanics.

Game Components of Clouds

30 Cloud tiles

15 Picture cards (with real cloud images or illustrations)

Optional: Picture cards with different backgrounds for varying difficulty levels

How To Setup Clouds

To set up **Clouds**, shuffle the 30 Cloud tiles and arrange them randomly face-up in the center of the table. If playing the cooperative version, leave the picture cards aside. For the competitive version, decide whether to use the real cloud images (easier) or the illustrations (slightly harder), shuffle the 15 cards, and place them face down in a pile.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Version

Objective: Together, players must form 15 cloud shapes within a 2-minute time limit.

Setup: Shuffle and arrange Cloud tiles face-up.

Gameplay: The youngest player starts the timer. Players work together to match the Cloud tiles to form the required shapes before the time runs out.

End: The game ends when all tiles are matched or the time is up. Winning the game requires matching all tiles within 2 minutes.

Competitive Version

Objective: Each player aims to find and match the most Picture cards by locating the two halves of the images on the Cloud tiles.

Setup: Shuffle Cloud tiles and Picture cards, decide on the difficulty level.

Gameplay: Players take turns flipping Picture cards and racing to find the matching halves on the Cloud tiles. The first player to find the match shouts the image name, checks the match, and keeps the card as a point.

End: The game ends when all Picture cards are used. The player with the most matches wins.

Player Experience

**Clouds** offers a fun and engaging experience, especially for children, as it encourages visual recognition and quick thinking. The game’s cooperative mode fosters teamwork, while the competitive mode introduces a thrilling race to find matches.

Pros

Simple and Easy to Learn: The rules are straightforward, making it accessible to young players.

Promotes Visual Skills: Encourages players to recognize and match shapes.

Fast-Paced: The time limit adds an exciting element to the game.

Dynamic Gameplay: Switches between cooperative and competitive modes offer variety.

Cons

Limited Replayability: The game may become repetitive after several plays.

Time Pressure: The 2-minute time limit can be stressful for some players.

No Physical Interaction with Tiles: Players cannot touch the tiles during the game, which might be frustrating for some.

Personal Thoughts on Clouds

**Clouds** is perfect for families with young children, teaching important skills like shape recognition and teamwork. It’s also a great option for schools looking for educational yet fun activities. The game’s simplicity and quick gameplay make it an excellent addition to any family game night or children’s playdate. However, it may not offer enough complexity for older players seeking more challenging experiences.

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