DIG (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

DIG is a board game designed by Chris Handy and published by Perplext in in 2017. It falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Animals, Card Game, and Deduction. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 10 and up. With a runtime of about 10 minutes, DIG is a quick and engaging game that challenges players to use their strategic thinking and deduction skills.

Game Components of DIG

25 Yard cards featuring dog bowls or patches of grass

Dog cards

Bone cards in five different colors

Dog Bowl cards

How To Setup DIG

To set up DIG, lay out the 25 Yard cards in a line, representing the yard. Each player chooses a dog card and places it at the starting end of the yard. The game is ready to play once all players have their dogs positioned.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Move: Players can move their dog up to 4 cards along the Yard cards, with movement reduced by 1 card for each bone carried.

Dig: Players can dig up a bone by flipping over a grass card and placing the bone in their hand.

Drop: Players can drop a bone into a matching colored dog bowl if their dog is at that bowl.

Leap Frog Mechanism: When a bone is dug up, the Yard card furthest from the Dog House is removed and fills the empty spot, affecting the scoring.

Objective: Collect and return bones to the corresponding colored bowls to score points. The game ends when all non-bowl cards are collected, and points are awarded based on the proximity of the bowls to the Dog House.

Player Experience

In DIG, players take on the roles of dogs collecting bones in a yard. The game is adorned with adorable artwork and clever design elements, such as the “smell” lines on the grass cards that hint at the color of the bone on the other side. The gameplay is simple yet strategic, making it accessible to both children and adults. As players collect bones, they must manage their movement and timing to ensure the highest scoring bones end up in the most valuable positions.

Pros

Portable: Extremely compact, making it easy to carry.

Adorable Artwork: Charming illustrations that enhance the game’s theme.

Strategic Depth: More strategy than expected from such a small game.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players of all ages.

Cons

Limited Space: The small cards can sometimes make movement and placement a bit crowded.

Lack of Variety: The gameplay, while enjoyable, does not offer a lot of variability.

Personal Thoughts on DIG

DIG is a delightful filler game perfect for short breaks or as a warm-up for a game night. It’s an excellent choice for families and casual gamers due to its simplicity and strategic elements. While it may not be the main event of a gaming session, it certainly brings big fun in a small package. If you’re looking for a light, entertaining game that’s easy to learn and play, DIG is a great addition to your collection.

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