Curios (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Curios is a board game released in 2019, designed by Carl Frank and published by Alderac Entertainment Group. It is a game that falls into the bluffing and deduction category, with an auction/bidding mechanism. The game is designed for 2-5 players, with a recommended player count of 3. It has a runtime of 15-20 minutes and is suitable for players aged 14 and above.

Game Components of Curios

Archaeologist Pawns: 5 pawns per player, with additional pawns set aside

Treasure Site Cards: Representing locations like The Great Pyramid, The Forbidden Temple, The Lost Shipwreck, and The Ancient Colosseum

Market Cards: Valued 1, 3, 5, or 7, hidden at each treasure site

Artifacts: Represented by gems or jewels

First-player token: Often a fancy metal lantern

Game Board: Small boards for each treasure site

How To Setup Curios

To set up Curios, each player receives 5 archaeologist pawns, with the remaining pawns set aside. The Treasure Site Cards are placed on the table, and their corresponding Market Cards are shuffled and one card is placed face-down at each site. The remaining Market Cards are assembled into a single deck and shuffled; each player is dealt a number of cards based on the player count (e.g., 4 cards for 2-3 players, 3 cards for 4 players, 2 cards for 5 players). Any remaining cards are placed in a side deck.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Placement of Pawns: Players take turns placing their pawns on the treasure sites. The first player places one pawn, the second player places two pawns, and so on.

Artifact Collection: When placing pawns, players collect artifacts from the site.

Bonus Artifacts: The player with the most pawns on each site at the end of the round gains a bonus artifact.

Recruiting Additional Archaeologists: Players can discard a Market Card to recruit an additional archaeologist, revealing more information to other players.

Game End: The game ends after two or more treasure sites have been depleted of artifacts. The Market Cards are revealed, and the value of each artifact is determined. The player with the highest total value wins.

Player Experience

Curios is designed for family and casual gamers, aiming for simplicity and quick gameplay. Players take on the roles of rogue archaeologists, competing to collect the most valuable artifacts. The game involves deduction and bluffing, as players try to figure out the values of the artifacts based on the cards they hold and the moves of their opponents.

Pros

Simple and Quick: Easy to learn and play, with a playtime of about 30 minutes.

Scalable: Works well with 2-5 players.

Light Deduction: Involves some interesting decisions and bluffing elements.

Nice Components: Comes with a deluxe tin, nice artwork, and quality gems.

Cons

Limited Depth: Criticized for lacking substantial gameplay and decision-making.

Luck-Dependent: The outcome can be heavily influenced by the luck of the draw.

Not Taxing: Some players find it too simple and not engaging enough.

Personal Thoughts on Curios

Curios is suited for those looking for a light, quick game that is easy to understand and play. It is ideal for family game nights or casual gaming sessions where complex strategies are not desired. While it lacks the depth and complexity that some hardcore gamers might crave, it serves well as a filler game or an introduction to more strategic games. If you enjoy simple deduction and bluffing games like Love Letter, you might appreciate Curios. However, for those seeking more substantial gameplay, other options might be more satisfying.

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