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Holi: Festival of Colors (2020) Board Game

ByMichail

Holi: Festival of Colors is a board game inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, which is celebrated in India and Nepal. The festival marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Players take on the role of rival groups of villagers who are trying to cover each other in colored powders to gain the favor of the gods.

Game Components of Holi: Festival of Colors

  • Three-tiered board**
  • Color tokens**
  • Color cards**
  • Player markers** (in four animal shapes)
  • Sweets tokens**
  • Score track**
  • Rivalry cards** (optional)
  • Helper card**

    How To Setup Holi: Festival of Colors

    To set up the game, assemble the three-tiered board and place the sweets tokens on their designated spaces. Set the score track and Rivalry cards (if using) nearby for visibility. Each player receives their color’s player markers, color tokens, color cards, and a helper card. The first player gets a special marker, such as the cool lotus flower marker, and the game can begin.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Throw Color: Mandatory action where players choose a color card to play, placing color tokens on the board according to the card’s pattern. This can hit other players’ markers for extra points.
  • Move: Optional action allowing players to move to any space on their current level, excluding spaces occupied by opponents. Players can collect sweets tokens or pick up their own color tokens.
  • Climb Up: Optional action where players can move to the next higher level if surrounded by color tokens. Tokens on higher levels score more points.
  • Objective: Spread your color tokens to score points, with higher levels scoring more. The player with the most points at the end wins.

    Player Experience

    Holi: Festival of Colors offers a fun and strategic experience, recreating the vibrant and joyful atmosphere of the Holi festival. Players enjoy the simplicity of the rules combined with the depth of strategy, particularly in using color cards to create favorable positions and hinder opponents. The game is easy to teach and plays smoothly, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

    Pros

  • Unique Table Presence: The three-tiered board and colorful tokens create a visually appealing setup.
  • Rivalry Cards: Add variety and fresh dynamics to the game, enhancing replayability.
  • Scalability: Scales well with 2-4 players.
  • Easy to Learn: Simple rules with handy player aids for quick reference.
  • Joyful Atmosphere: Captures the spirit of the Holi festival, promoting joy and strategic play.

    Cons

  • Token Management: Care must be taken to manage color tokens, especially on higher levels to avoid them falling to lower levels.
  • Dependence on Rivalry Cards: For added longevity, the game benefits significantly from the use of Rivalry cards.

    Personal Thoughts on Holi: Festival of Colors

    Holi: Festival of Colors is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a light to medium-weight abstract strategy game. It is ideal for families, casual gamers, and those who appreciate games with a unique table presence and easy-to-learn mechanics. The game’s ability to balance simplicity with strategic depth makes it a great addition to any board game collection, ensuring a joyful and engaging experience for players of various skill levels.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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