Dollars to Donuts (2021) Board Game

Dollars to Donuts is a board game released in 2021 by Crafty Games. Designed by Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, and Shawn Stankewich, this game falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy and Puzzle. With a runtime of 30–45 minutes and suitable for players aged 8 and above, Dollars to Donuts offers a fun and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Dollars to Donuts

Donut tiles: 1×4 tiles featuring partial donuts

Dollar tiles: Act as currency and filler for the player board, with some having donut halves or holes

Victory Tokens: Represent different types of donuts (plain, chocolate, deluxe sprinkles, jelly-filled)

Customer Cards: Detail the donuts customers are looking for

Player boards: 6×6 grids representing each player’s donut shop

Specials board: Displays the available donut tiles and their costs

How To Setup Dollars to Donuts

To set up the game, place the Specials board and lay out six long donut tiles face up. Shuffle the Customer Cards and place four face up. Each player receives their own board, four starter tiles, and five dollar tiles. Players must place their starter tiles on their board, ensuring no two tiles are in the same row or column.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Selection: Players buy a 1×4 donut tile from the market, with costs ranging from $0 to $5 based on the tile’s position.

Tile Placement: Tiles can be placed anywhere on the player board, even extending beyond the board’s edges.

Matching Donuts: Perfectly matched donut halves earn Victory Tokens, while mismatched donuts earn dollar tiles.

Customer Service: Players can serve customers by cashing in the required Victory Tokens, with options to serve extra donuts for bonus points.

Dollar Tile Placement: Dollar tiles can fill spaces on the board and complete donuts or earn bonus points for pairs of donut holes.

Game End: The game ends when one player fills their board or the donut tiles run out.

Scoring: Points are awarded for served customers, neighborhood bonuses, pairs of donut holes, remaining Victory Tokens, and subtracted for empty spaces on the board.

Player Experience

Playing **Dollars to Donuts** is a fun and strategic experience. Each turn involves making consequential decisions about which tiles to buy and where to place them to maximize points. The game requires a balance between matching donuts, serving customers, and managing dollar tiles to fill spaces on the board. The unique tile placement mechanic, where tiles can extend beyond the board, adds a challenging yet engaging puzzle element.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to players of all ages.

Strategic Depth: Requires thoughtful tile placement and resource management.

Unique Mechanics: The ability to place tiles beyond the board edges and the multi-use dollar tiles are innovative features.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for both casual gamers and families.

Quick Gameplay: Turns are concise, keeping all players engaged.

Cons

Luck Element: The game can be swingy, with some players lucking into easy points based on tile draws and customer cards.

Empty Spaces Penalty: Leaving empty spaces on the board results in negative points.

Personal Thoughts on Dollars to Donuts

**Dollars to Donuts** is an excellent addition to any game collection, especially for those who enjoy puzzle games and set collection mechanics. It is perfect for families, casual gamers, and those looking for a lighter game to play between more complex gaming sessions. The game’s ease of learning, combined with its strategic depth, makes it a great choice for a wide range of players. However, the luck element can sometimes affect the game’s balance, but this does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

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