Foodies (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Foodies’ is a board game released in 2019 by ADC Blackfire Entertainment. It was designed by Ken Gruhl and Marco Portugal, with artwork by Hannah Cardoso and Saeed Jalabi. The game falls under the economic category and incorporates various gameplay mechanisms such as connections, contracts, dice rolling, grid coverage market, and random production.

Game Components of Foodies

5 Food Court boards for setting up unique mixes of 9 food stalls

100 food stall cards representing dishes from 10 cuisine cultures

2 small decks of Culture cards and Special Chef cards

A 2-sided Market Board to track points and lay out available cards

$1 and $3 coin tokens

Popularity (star) tokens and Flyer tokens

Player markers, starter token, and one 10-sided die

8-page Rules booklet.

How To Setup Foodies

To set up Foodies, place the main play board in the center, ensuring the correct side is used based on the number of players (two or three players on one side, four or five players on the other). Each player selects a random player board and receives starting coins, stars, and flyer tokens. Five country cards are selected from the deck, and the corresponding food stall cards are prepared. The special chef deck is also used to select two chefs for the game. Finally, the food court is filled with available food stalls to purchase during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Phases: Each player’s turn consists of three phases – a foodie visit (rolling a 10-sided die to determine which food stall is visited), purchasing a new food stall, and potentially hiring a special chef.

Foodie Visit: All players collect rewards based on the die roll, with each cuisine culture having unique effects. A roll of zero allows the active player to choose the stall number.

Food Stall Purchase: Players buy new food stalls using collected coins, strategizing about the best placement in their food court.

Hiring Chefs: Special chefs can be hired to gain additional popularity points, each with specific requirements.

Game Objective: The game ends when a player reaches 20 popularity points (for 2-3 players) or 30 points (for 4-5 players). The player with the most popularity points wins.

Player Experience

Foodies is designed for 2-5 players and typically lasts 20-30 minutes. It is praised for its ease of learning and teaching, making it accessible to players aged 14 and up, though younger players can also enjoy it. The game’s quick and engaging play ensures minimal downtime, as every player is involved in the foodie visit phase. The diversity in cuisine and special chefs adds a layer of strategy and uniqueness to each game.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and straightforward rules.

Quick Engaging Play: Lasts 20-30 minutes with minimal downtime.

Strategy Involved: Choosing the best food stalls and their placement.

Unique Each Time: Different cuisines and special chefs each game.

Great Box Design: Well-designed components and rulebook.

Cons

While generally well-received, some minor complaints may arise, but these are largely outweighed by the game’s positives.

Personal Thoughts on Foodies

Foodies is an excellent addition to any game night, especially for families and friends looking for a light-hearted, yet strategic game. It’s a great alternative to more complex and competitive games, offering a fun and engaging experience without the need for extensive setup or lengthy gameplay. If you enjoy managing resources, strategizing, and a bit of luck, Foodies is definitely worth trying out.

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