Minigolf Designer (2020) Board Game

Minigolf Designer is a board game released in 2020 by Thematic Games, designed by Alban Nanty. It is a puzzle game suitable for 1 to 5 players, with a recommended age of 10 and above. The game features modular board and tile placement mechanics, allowing players to create their own mini-golf courses.

Game Components of Minigolf Designer

Minigolf course tiles

Client visit tiles

Player pawns

Common scoreboard

Land cards

Par cubes

Promise cards (for the advanced game)

Time tiles

Entrance gates

Water feature tiles

How To Setup Minigolf Designer

To set up Minigolf Designer, players start by placing a number of minigolf course tiles on the second and third racks, equal to the number of players plus one. These tiles are drawn from a bag, placed face down with the number side up, and then sorted into numerical order. Players decide whether to play the family version or the advanced version and position the common scoreboard accordingly. In the advanced game, client visit tiles are added to the bag based on the player count.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Laying: Players select tiles from the racks and place them orthogonally or diagonally adjacent to existing tiles or their entrance gate.

Course Design: Players aim to design a minigolf course with nine holes and a total par as close to 36 as possible.

Client Preferences: Players must incorporate features desired by Mr. and Mrs. Client into their course.

Scoring: Points are awarded for holes with par 3-5, total par closeness to 36, and land utilization. Penalties apply for missing or misplaced tiles, malformed holes, and misaligned tiles.

End Game: Players draw time tiles for bonus points after filling their allotted land or choosing to stop.

Player Experience

Minigolf Designer offers a quirky mix of mechanics with quality components and simplistic art design. The game presents interesting tile-laying challenges that change from game to game, making each experience unique. The puzzle aspect is engaging and requires strategic thinking to optimize the minigolf course within the given constraints.

Pros

Dynamic Challenges: Each game offers different tile layouts and client preferences.

Family Friendly: Suitable for young kids and enjoyable for adults.

Strategic Depth: Requires planning and optimization to achieve a high score.

High Replayability: Random tile draws and varying client demands ensure varied gameplay.

Cons

Complex Setup: Sorting and preparing tiles can be time-consuming.

Steep Learning Curve: Understanding all the rules and scoring mechanics can take time.

Penalty Heavy: Numerous penalties for mistakes can make scoring complex.

Personal Thoughts on Minigolf Designer

Minigolf Designer is an excellent choice for those looking for a medium-light game that is both accessible and fun. It is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy puzzles and strategic planning. The game’s ability to balance simplicity with depth makes it a great addition to any board game collection, offering a fun and light-hearted theme that appeals to a wide range of players.

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