Dragomino (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Dragomino is a children’s board game designed by Bruno Cathala, Marie Fort, and Wilfried Fort, and published by Blue Orange in in 2020. It is a spin-off of the popular game Kingdomino, designed specifically for younger players aged 5 and up. In Dragomino, players explore the mysterious island of Dragomino, searching for adorable baby dragons to hatch and raise.

Game Components of Dragomino

28 exploration dominoes

69 Egg Tokens

1 wooden Mommy Dragon meeple

4 Starting Dominoes

Illustrated Rules

How To Setup Dragomino

To set up Dragomino, each player starts with the same base tile. Four exploration dominoes are laid out face up in the center. The youngest player, or the player holding the Mommy Dragon token, gets the first pick of the tiles. They choose a tile that matches a landscape on their starter domino and place it accordingly. Players then take turns picking and placing tiles, ensuring they match the landscapes already in play.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting and Tile Placement: Players pick dominoes to add to their kingdom, matching different landscapes.

Pattern Building: Players connect tiles to match various environments like desert, snow, prairies, forests, mountains, and volcanoes.

Objective: The goal is to collect as many dragon eggs as possible, with some eggs containing baby dragons. The player with the most baby dragons wins.

Special Mechanics:
– If a match is made, the player receives a dragon egg, which may contain a baby dragon or be empty.
– An empty egg allows the player to take the Mommy Dragon token, granting them first pick in the next round.
– A variant includes using pool symbols on the tiles to draw two eggs and choose one.

Player Experience

Dragomino is designed to be a fun and accessible game for young players. The gameplay is quick, typically lasting 15-20 minutes, making it perfect for children with shorter attention spans. The game introduces basic strategy concepts like matching and planning, without being overly complex. The colorful and diverse artwork, including cute and unique dragon designs, adds to the game’s appeal and engagement.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules that young children can quickly understand.

Quick Gameplay: Games are short, lasting about 15-20 minutes.

Engaging Artwork: High-quality, colorful illustrations and cute dragon designs.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for playing with children as young as 5 years old.

Promotes Basic Strategy: Introduces children to matching and planning concepts.

Cons

Limited Depth: The game may become repetitive and less engaging for older children.

Color Confusion: The use of two different greens (lighter and darker) can cause confusion, especially for younger players.

Randomness: The randomness of hatching eggs can be frustrating for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Dragomino

Dragomino is an excellent introduction to board games for young children. It is ideal for families looking for a game that is both fun and educational, teaching basic strategy and turn-taking skills. While it may not offer deep strategic play, it is perfect for its target audience of children aged 5 and up. For older children or those familiar with more complex board games, Dragomino might be too simple, but its charm and artwork make it a delightful addition to any family game collection.

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