Fresco

“Fresco” is a 2010 designer board game by Marco Ruskowski and Marcel Süßelbeck. The game was nominated for the 2010 Spiel des Jahres award and won the 2010 Deutscher Spiele Preis. In Fresco, players take on the role of master painters attempting to restore a fresco on a cathedral ceiling, earning points for each section they repair. The game was published by Queen Games and is suitable for 2 to 4 players, with a playing time of approximately 45 minutes and an age range of 10 and up.

Why is Fresco Popular?

Fresco is a popular and significant board game due to its engaging theme, innovative gameplay, and replayability. The game’s theme of restoring a fresco in a Renaissance church resonates with players who appreciate the artistic and historical aspects of the game. The gameplay is unique and challenging, requiring players to manage a team of apprentices who buy or mix paints, paint portraits to earn money, and keep the bishop happy. The game’s components are of high quality, and the artwork is visually appealing. Additionally, Fresco can be played with the standard game or with any of eleven expansion modules, providing players with a variety of gameplay experiences.

Game Components of Fresco

Fresco board4 Fresco tiles60 Paint tokens12 Apprentice markers1 Bishop marker1 Market marker1 Cathedral marker1 Studio marker1 Expansion module box (contains 3 modules: The Portraits, The Catacomb, and The Hostel)

Game Setup of Fresco

Prepare the game board by placing the fresco tiles, paint tokens, and apprentice markers on the board.Shuffle the expansion modules and place them face down in the cathedral.Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding apprentice marker and painter token.Place the bishop, market, cathedral, and studio markers on the board.Determine the starting player and begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics of Fresco

During each turn, players secretly assign their five apprentices to any of several locations (market, cathedral, or studio). Choices are then revealed, and each location is visited in turn. At the market, apprentices can buy paint in the primary colors. At the cathedral, they can restore a fresco using specified colors to score points and gain income for future turns. In the studio, they can paint portraits for the bourgeois to earn money.

Game Objective of Fresco

The goal of Fresco is to restore the fresco on the cathedral ceiling by painting over damaged sections and earning points for each section repaired. Players must manage their apprentices wisely to ensure they have enough paint and money to complete the restoration and earn the most victory points.

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