Kawaii (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Kawaii is a fun and colorful board game designed by Marc-Antoine Hofmann and Ismaël Perrin, with artwork by Felix Kindelan. It was released in 2019 by Helvetiq. The game is perfect for 3-5 players and is recommended for ages 6 and up. With a runtime of just 15 minutes, Kawaii is a quick and exciting party game that will have players on the edge of their seats.

Game Components of Kawaii

A deck of ice cream cards with various shapes and flavors

Heart-shaped capture tokens

Tokens for scoring

How To Setup Kawaii

To set up Kawaii, each player is dealt their favorite shape and flavor of ice cream, which are kept secret. The deck is shuffled, and players start turning over cards to form piles of ice cream, ensuring each card’s shape and color remain visible.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Push-Your-Luck Mechanics: Players turn over cards to build piles of ice cream.

Resource Management: Using heart-shaped capture tokens to grab piles of ice cream.

Scoring: Points are awarded for ice creams that match flavor, shape, or both. Extras are given for cherries, and negatives for encountering a closed shop.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most points by strategically grabbing piles of ice cream.

Player Experience

Kawaii offers a straightforward and charming gameplay experience. It is light on strategy but heavy on luck, making it an excellent introduction to push-your-luck mechanics for families. The game is quick, lasting around 10-15 minutes, and is easy to carry due to its small box size.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for all ages, making it a great game for family gatherings.

Portable: The small box and few components make it easy to take on the go.

Simple to Learn: Easy rules that are quick to grasp.

Light and Fun: Provides a gentle, enjoyable gaming experience.

Cons

Limited Strategy: The game relies heavily on luck rather than strategy.

Value for Money: While affordable, it may not offer the same value as other games in its price range, like Dobble.

Personal Thoughts on Kawaii

Kawaii is ideal for families and casual gamers looking for a light, entertaining game that can be played in a short amount of time. It introduces push-your-luck mechanics in a gentle and engaging way, making it a great addition to any family game collection. However, it may not appeal to gamers seeking more complex strategies or deeper gameplay experiences.

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