Juicy Fruits is a board game released in 2021 by Deep Print Games. Designed by Christian Stöhr and illustrated by Annika Heller, this game falls into the categories of Economic and Farming games. With a runtime of 20–50 minutes, it can be enjoyed by 1–4 players, making it a versatile choice for game nights.
Game Components of Juicy Fruits
Fruit tokens: Chunky, wooden fruit pieces (bananas, limes, pomegranates, oranges, and mangosteen) that are highly tactile and visually appealing.Island boards: Each player has a 5×5 grid island board.Boat tiles: Randomly placed on the island’s shorelines with specific fruit requirements.Business tokens: Various tiles that offer different benefits, such as increased fruit collection or scoring opportunities.Ice cream cart tokens: Allow players to create ice cream cones and milkshakes for additional points.Score board: Tracks players’ points.Juice factory module: An optional module that adds an extra scoring track.
How To Setup Juicy Fruits
Setting up *Juicy Fruits* involves several steps:
Each player receives an island board and places 12 random boat tiles along the shorelines.The business board is centrally located and populated with randomly chosen business tokens.Players start with five fruit collector tokens, each corresponding to a different type of fruit.The score board and juice factory module (if using) are placed within reach of all players.The game requires sorting and distributing various components, which can be somewhat time-consuming.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Fruit Collection: Players move a fruit collector token a number of spaces to collect an equal number of fruits.Boat Fulfillment: Players supply ships along the coastline by returning the required fruits, earning points and freeing up space.Business Token Acquisition: Players use collected fruits to buy business tokens, which provide various benefits and scoring opportunities.Ice Cream Production: Using ice cream cart tokens, players can create ice cream cones and milkshakes for additional points.Juice Factory: An optional module where players can spend fruits to move along a conveyor belt for scoring opportunities.Objective: The player who gathers fruit most efficiently and accumulates the most points by fulfilling orders and acquiring business tokens wins the game.
Player Experience
*Juicy Fruits* offers a engaging and tactical gameplay experience:
The game starts slowly but builds up as players clear boats and acquire business tokens, expanding their fruit collection abilities.The decision space is well-balanced between fulfilling boat orders and investing in business tokens.The game is suitable for players of all ages, with a mix of immediate and long-term scoring opportunities.Despite its family-friendly theme, the game introduces Euro mechanics subtly, making it appealing to both younger and more experienced gamers.
Pros
Tactile Components: The chunky, wooden fruit pieces are a delight to handle.Engaging Mechanics: The sliding token puzzle and business token system offer a fun and challenging experience.High Replay Value: Randomized setup and multiple scoring paths ensure each game is different.Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and up, making it a great introduction to Euro games for younger players.Quick Turns: Games move at a brisk pace, keeping all players engaged.
Cons
Setup Time: The game requires a significant amount of time to set up due to the numerous components and randomization.Initial Complexity: The game’s appearance belies its depth, which can be overwhelming for some younger players.Randomness: The randomized setup can sometimes lead to uneven starting conditions, though this also adds to the replay value.
Personal Thoughts on Juicy Fruits
*Juicy Fruits* is an excellent choice for families and casual gamers looking to transition into more complex board games. It balances simplicity with depth, making it accessible yet challenging. The game is particularly suitable for children aged 8 and up, as well as adults who enjoy light to medium-weight Euro games. The theme and components are cheerful and engaging, hiding a layer of strategic complexity that will keep players coming back for more.
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