Famiglia (2010) Board Game
Famiglia is a card game designed by Friedemann Friese and published by 2F-Spiele in in 2010. The game is set in the world of the Mafia where players compete to earn the most respect by recruiting influential family members and completing tasks.
## Game Components of Famiglia
– 60 cards, each 4 inches long by 2.25 inches wide, divided into four families: La Famiglia (red), The Accountants (blue), The Brutes (yellow), and The Mercenaries (green).
– Each family has cards valued 0-4, with five zeros, four ones, three twos, two threes, and one four per family.
– Cards have unique illustrations and special abilities for each family.
– The game box is designed to look like a cigar box.
## How To Setup Famiglia
Players start with a starting deck of four cards, one zero from each family, marked on the back with a 1 or 2 to distinguish the players’ hands. Six cards are laid out in a row between the players, known as the Street. This setup initializes the game environment where players can begin recruiting gang members.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **Recruiting Gang Members**: Players need two identical cards (same family and same value) to recruit a card of the next highest value from the Street. One of the played cards is placed in the player’s play area, while the other and the recruited card return to the hand.
– **Special Abilities**: Each family has unique abilities:
– **Mercenaries**: Act as wild cards.
– **Accountants**: Bring cards back to the hand.
– **Brutes**: Make cards in the Street easier to collect.
– **La Famiglia**: Worth extra points but have no special ability.
– **Game Progression**: The game continues until all cards are out of the draw deck and into the Street. Players then take an equal number of turns, and the game ends. The player with the most points, accumulated from all cards in their hand and play area, wins.
## Player Experience
Famiglia offers a strategic yet quick gameplay experience. Players must carefully plan their actions to maximize their points while managing the special abilities of each family. The game’s depth is impressive given its simple setup and small number of cards. New players might take some time to get accustomed to the rules, but once understood, the game flows smoothly.
### Pros
– **Deep Strategy**: Despite the simple mechanics, the game offers a lot of strategic depth.
– **Quick and Portable**: The game is lightweight and can be played anywhere, making it a great travel game.
– **Unique Artwork**: Each card has a different illustration, and laying out all cards of a family reveals a continuous background image.
### Cons
– **Limited Game Length**: The game can end quickly, sometimes before players can fully utilize their stronger gang members.
– **Two-Player Only**: The game is designed for two players, which can be inconvenient when there are more players available.
## Personal Thoughts on Famiglia
Famiglia is an excellent choice for those looking for a strategic, quick, and portable card game. It is suitable for children aged 8 and above, assuming they have some gaming experience. The game’s unique mechanics and special abilities of each family make it engaging and challenging, even for adult players. However, its short game length and two-player limitation might be drawbacks for some users.
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