Funfair (2021) Board Game

Funfair is a board game released in 2021 by designers Lina Cossette and David Forest. It falls under the categories of card game, city building, and economic games, with gameplay centered around contracts, end game bonuses, hand management, open drafting, and variable player powers. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 14+ and a runtime of 30-60 minutes.
## Game Components of Funfair
– Gate cards
– Showcase cards
– Park cards
– Blueprint cards
– City cards
– Award cards
– Staff cards
– Upgrade cards
– Coins
– Reference cards
– Game board with two configurations (for players sitting across or next to each other)
– Round coaster-token

## How To Setup Funfair
To set up Funfair, players place the round coaster-token on the City step of the game board. Each player receives a Gate card, a Showcase card, 30 coins, and 5 Park cards, ensuring at least one Attraction card is in their hand. The Park cards are shuffled and 6 are placed face-up on the board to form the Market. The Blueprint cards are shuffled and placed face-down on their spot. City cards are shuffled, and 6 are drawn off the top, with the rest returned to the box. One Award card is drawn and placed face-up on the Awards spot[4%.

## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **City Step**: Players follow the instructions on the top City card, which can be an instant or ongoing effect for the round.
– **Park Step**: Players take 3 to 4 actions, depending on whether they have built their Showcase attraction. Actions include:
– **Build**: Add an attraction or upgrade from the hand or Market, paying the required coins.
– **Take**: Take a card from the Market or draw cards from the Park or Blueprint deck.
– **Loose Change**: Collect 1 coin for each attraction in the park.
– **Demolish**: Remove an attraction or upgrade from the park.
– **Guest Step**: Players earn coins based on the stars on their attractions.
– **Cleanup Phase**: Discard Park cards from the Market, draw new ones, and move the starting player token.
– The game ends after 6 rounds, and players score points based on attractions, upgrades, staff, coins, awards, and completed blueprints.

## Player Experience
Funfair is designed to be easy to learn and fast to set up, making it a great gateway game for new players. The game’s theme of building and managing a theme park is engaging, with high-quality components and colorful artwork. Players enjoy the strategic depth in building their parks, completing blueprints, and managing resources. The game’s length is approximately 30-60 minutes, making it suitable for a quick gaming session.

### Pros
– **Easy to pick up**: Simple rules and quick setup.
– **Family-friendly**: Suitable for all ages and new players.
– **High-quality components**: Beautiful artwork and sturdy materials.
– **Fast gameplay**: Games typically last 30-60 minutes.
– **Strategic depth**: Players must manage resources and complete objectives.

### Cons
– **Low replayability**: The game’s streamlined nature reduces its replay value.
– **No “Take That” mechanics**: Less interactive compared to Unfair.
– **Some overpowered staff**: Certain staff members, like the Park Designer, are significantly stronger than others.

## Personal Thoughts on Funfair
Funfair is an excellent choice for those looking for a light, fun, and easy-to-learn tabletop game. It is ideal for families, new gamers, or anyone interested in a quick and enjoyable theme park-building experience. While it lacks the replayability and interaction of its predecessor, Unfair, it makes up for it with its streamlined gameplay and beautiful presentation. If you’re a fan of theme parks or are looking for a gateway game to introduce others to tabletop gaming, Funfair is a solid choice.

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