Nutty Business (2023) Board Game

Nutty Business is a board game released in 2023 by designer Alain Rivollet and artist Christine Alcouffe. Published by Evrikus, this game falls under the category of Mafia-themed games and employs the mechanism of Hand Management. With a playing time of 10-20 minutes, Nutty Business is designed for 2-5 players aged 10 and above.

Game Components of Nutty Business

Player Hands: Symmetrical hands of cards for each player.

Action Cards: Eight different action cards that players can use to hoard nuts, steal from opponents, and disrupt plans.

Nut Tokens: Representing the illegal nut cargo.

Customs and Police Tokens: Symbolizing the threats of customs officers and police raids.

How To Setup Nutty Business

To set up the game, each player starts with a symmetrical hand of cards. Two piles are placed in front of each player, and the game is ready to begin once all players have their hands and the piles are in place.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage their card hands to execute strategies.

Card Piles: Each round, players add a card to one of the two piles in front of them and activate the effect on top of each pile.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most nuts by playing out your entire hand, while navigating the effects of the cards and potential threats from customs officers and police raids.

Player Experience

In **Nutty Business**, players embody squirrels in a 1925 Central Park setting, engaging in a nut-smuggling operation. The game is surprisingly complex despite using only eight action cards, thanks to the variety of combinations and table dynamics. Players must balance hoarding nuts, stealing from opponents, and protecting their loot, all while anticipating and reacting to the actions of other players.

Pros

Dynamic Gameplay: The game offers a high level of complexity and strategy with simple components.

Quick Playtime: Games typically last between 10 to 20 minutes.

Multiplayer: Supports 2 to 5 players, making it a versatile game for different group sizes.

Thematic Engagement: The unique theme of squirrel gangs in Central Park adds a fun and quirky element.

Cons

Limited Cards: The game relies on only eight action cards, which might lead to repetitive strategies.

Luck Factor: The draw and activation of cards can introduce an element of luck that may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Nutty Business

**Nutty Business** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic hand management and interactive gameplay. It is a great fit for families and casual gamers due to its short playtime and easy-to-learn mechanics, yet it also offers enough depth for more experienced players to analyze and optimize their strategies. However, those seeking a game with a large variety of components or more complex rules might find **Nutty Business** a bit too simplistic.

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