Facecards (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Facecards is a card game designed by Oliver Freudenreich and released in 2017 by Ravensburger. The game is suitable for 3 to 7 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above. It falls under the category of card games and focuses on pattern recognition as its main mechanism.

Game Components of Facecards

160 cards representing various subjects such as animals, things, jobs, and more.

Photo albums for each player.

A camera token for the active player.

Point cards.

10 blank cards for customizing with personal photos or other images[5>.

How To Setup Facecards

To set up Facecards, each player receives a photo album and a hand of cards. The camera token is given to the active player for the round. The remaining cards are placed in a central deck. Players will use their photo albums to keep track of their scored points by placing point cards underneath it.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Card Matching: Players choose pairs of cards from their hand that they believe have some form of commonality (e.g., color, facial expression, occupation, clothing, background).

Deductive Guessing: The active player tries to match cards in the central pool with cards facedown in front of other players.

Scoring: Points are awarded when matches are correctly identified, with bonus points for matching cards of different types (people, animals, things).

Game Objective

The objective is to score the most points by correctly matching and identifying commonalities between the cards.

Player Experience

Facecards is a game that encourages creativity and ambiguity, making it a fun and engaging experience. Players must think outside the box to find connections between seemingly unrelated cards. The game can lead to humorous moments as players justify their reasoning for matching certain cards. It also has a social element, as players interact and discuss their matches, creating a shared play space.

Pros

Encourages Creative Thinking: Players must think creatively to find connections between cards.

Social and Interactive: The game fosters discussion and interaction among players.

Customizable: The inclusion of blank cards allows players to add personal photos, making the game more personalized.

Light and Fun: Ideal for a light, entertaining game night with friends or family.

Cons

Repetitive: After several plays, some players might find the game repetitive as they start to remember which cards are likely to match.

Young Players May Struggle: Younger players might have a harder time identifying matches, leading to longer gameplay or fewer matches per round.

Personal Thoughts on Facecards

Facecards is perfect for those who enjoy light, party games that promote social interaction and creative thinking. It’s ideal for game nights with friends or family gatherings, especially for groups who appreciate humor and deductive reasoning. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking complex or strategic gameplay. The game’s ability to include personal photos adds a unique and fun element, making it a great addition to any party game collection.

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