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Miyabi (2019) Board Game

ByMichail

Miyabi is a board game designed by René Amthor and released in in 2019. It is a strategic puzzle game that involves layering tiles to create beautiful Japanese gardens. Players compete to score points by carefully placing tiles and creating patterns on their personal game boards.

Game Components of Miyabi

  • Player boards divided into rows and columns
  • Garden tiles of various sizes and shapes (1s, 2s, 3-corners, 3-straights)
  • Wooden lanterns for column tracking
  • Scoring stones
  • Bonus tiles
  • Five mini-expansions for added complexity

    How To Setup Miyabi

    To set up Miyabi, place the scoreboard in the center of the table and give each player a player board along with six lanterns in their player color. Position the lanterns above each column on the player board. Shuffle and organize the garden tiles by size, then set out the bonus tiles. Finally, randomly reveal the tiles for the first round based on the number of players.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Tile Drafting:** Players draft tiles to place in their gardens.
  • Tile Placement:** Each row can only house one type of object, as indicated by the symbols on the side of the board.
  • Scoring:** Score tiles based on the number of objects and the layer they are placed on (e.g., two fish on the second level score four points).
  • Layering:** Build up to five layers for bonus points.
  • End Game Scoring:** Additional points for having the most objects in each row.
  • Game Duration:** Played over four to six rounds depending on the number of players.

    Player Experience

    Miyabi offers a relaxed yet strategically challenging experience. Players must carefully plan their tile placements due to restrictive rules, such as each column only allowing one ornament per round. The game rewards logical thinking and strategic planning, making it a puzzle to enjoy. The included mini-expansions add variety and replayability, allowing the game to scale with the players’ skills.

    Pros

  • Plenty of replayability
  • Very good rule book
  • Nice puzzle to solve
  • Relaxing gameplay

    Cons

  • Scoreboard could be better
  • Thin player boards

    Personal Thoughts on Miyabi

    Miyabi is perfect for those who enjoy strategic tile-laying games with a relaxed atmosphere. It’s ideal for a Sunday afternoon, offering a calming yet intellectually stimulating experience. If you’re a fan of games like Azul or Nmbr 9 and are looking for something with deeper strategy, Miyabi is an excellent choice. The game’s simplicity in learning but complexity in mastering makes it a great addition to any board game collection.

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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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