Namiji (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Namiji is a board game released in 2022 by designer Antoine Bauza, known for his popular games like 7 Wonders and Hanabi. The game is published by Funforge and features artwork by Xavier Gueniffey Durin. Namiji falls under the travel category, offering players a relaxing and strategic gaming experience.

Game Components of Namiji

Game board representing a loop of spaces

Player boards for each fishing boat

Fish tokens

Crustacean tokens

Offering tokens

Sacred Rock cards

Panorama cards

Dock cards

Whirlpool board (with the Aquamarine expansion)

Extra Crustacean tokens and wild colored fish tokens (with the Aquamarine expansion)

How To Setup Namiji

To set up **Namiji**, each player receives a boat board and places their boat at the Start/Finish Port on the main board. Each player starts with four offering tokens on their boat. The various station cards and tokens are placed according to their designated spaces on the board. The Sacred Rock cards are shuffled and placed face down at the Sacred Rock stations. Players also receive Early Bird tokens, which are used to determine the starting order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Linear Track Movement: Players move their boats along a linear track, taking actions based on the space they land on.

Leap-Frog Turn Order: The player whose boat is furthest back on the track takes the next turn.

Set Collection: Collecting sets of fish, crustaceans, and other marine items.

Push-Your-Luck: Crustacean traps involve drawing tokens until two crabs are drawn, at which point all tokens are returned.

Variable Player Powers: Docks and Sacred Rock stations offer unique abilities and objectives.

Game Objective

The objective is to collect the most points by filling your boat’s racks with fish, hauling in crustaceans, completing panoramas, fulfilling Sacred Rock objectives, and managing offering tokens to avoid penalties.

Player Experience

**Namiji** offers a relaxing and easy-going experience, much like its predecessor **Tokaido**. Players must balance the need to move quickly to secure desired action spaces with the need to take multiple turns to maximize their score. The game includes various stations such as Angling stations for collecting fish, Net casting stations for random fish pairs, Crustacean traps for a push-your-luck mechanic, Whirlpool stations for offering tokens to avoid penalties, Panorama stations for revealing majestic sea creatures, and Sacred Rock stations for secret objectives. The game’s peaceful nature and beautiful theme make it a great choice for those looking for a light, yet engaging board game.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to new players.

Gatekeeper Game: An excellent introduction to hobby board games.

Relaxing Atmosphere: Reflects Japan’s respect for the natural world and social harmony.

Variety in Stations: Each station offers unique mechanics and challenges.

Streamlined Gameplay: Improvements over **Tokaido** make the game more engaging.

Cons

Randomness: Can be frustrating, especially with fishing and crustacean traps.

Less Interactive with 2 Players: The game is more engaging with higher player counts.

Personal Thoughts on Namiji

**Namiji** is ideal for players seeking a light, yet strategic board game experience. It is particularly suited for new hobby board game players due to its easy-to-learn mechanics and peaceful atmosphere. While it shares many similarities with **Tokaido**, the updates and new stations make **Namiji** a worthwhile addition to any board game collection. The Aquamarine expansion adds further variety and depth, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. If you enjoy set collection, strategic movement, and a tranquil theme, **Namiji** is a great choice.

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