Cosmoctopus (2023) Board Game

Cosmoctopus is a board game released in 2023 by Paper Fort Games. Designed by Henry Audubon and illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos, the game falls under the Adventure, Fantasy, and Horror categories, offering a unique gaming experience to players aged 10 and above. With a playing time of 60-90 minutes and accommodating 1-4 players, Cosmoctopus challenges players to navigate through an immersive world filled with mystery and danger.

Game Components of Cosmoctopus

Inky Realm grid: A flexible configuration of randomly shuffled tiles.

Cosmoctopus figure: A moulded plastic octopus with rotatable head.

Tentacles: Different shaped, moulded plastic pieces.

Resource tokens: Chunky, wooden tokens.

Cards: Representing relics, scripture, hallucinations, and constellations.

Summoning grid tiles: For each player.

Forbidden Knowledge tiles: Granting tentacles.

Cardboard components and card stock: Thick and durable.

How To Setup Cosmoctopus

To set up Cosmoctopus, players start by configuring the Inky Realm grid with randomly shuffled tiles. Each player receives a summoning grid tile. The Cosmoctopus figure is placed on the grid, and the resource tokens and cards are distributed according to the rules. The game components are laid out in a way that ensures all players have access to the resources and cards needed for gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Engine-building: Players build up their tableau with cards to gain resources and benefits.

Action-selection: Players move the Cosmoctopus one space on the grid and carry out the action on the landed space.

Resource management: Players must collect and manage resources to play cards and claim tentacles.

Deck-building: Players acquire and play cards to enhance their resource collection and tentacle acquisition.

Objective: Be the first player to gather 8 tentacles by playing specific cards or collecting 13 resources of one type.

Player Experience

Playing Cosmoctopus involves a mix of strategic planning and interactive gameplay. The game starts gently, with quick turns, but as players build up their tableau, turns can become longer and more complex. The use of a single Cosmoctopus figure that all players move adds a competitive element, as each player’s actions can undo the previous player’s moves. The game encourages players to build combos and utilize their cards effectively to gain resources and tentacles.

Pros

High replayability: Variable setup and card combinations ensure different experiences each game.

Deep strategy: Offers complex combos and resource management.

Quality components: Durable and visually appealing pieces.

Multi-mode support: Includes solo and cooperative modes.

Engaging theme: Unique and quirky celestial octopus theme.

Cons

Game length: Can feel a bit long, especially as the game progresses.

Complexity in later stages: Turns can become lengthy as players optimize their combos.

Resource management challenge: Discarding resources at the end of each turn can be tricky to manage.

Personal Thoughts on Cosmoctopus

Cosmoctopus is ideal for fans of engine-building and deck-building games who enjoy strategic depth and a unique theme. It caters well to both casual and experienced gamers, offering a gentle learning curve but significant complexity as the game advances. The game’s interactive nature and competitive elements make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who appreciate tableau builders with massive combo potential.

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