Ovni (2013) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Ovni is a science fiction board game released in 2013, designed by Marcelo Bissoli and Diego Sanchez. The game is set in a futuristic world where players take on the role of alien races competing for control over different sectors of the galaxy. With a mix of area majority, auction/bidding, set collection, and worker placement mechanics, Ovni offers a unique gameplay experience for 3-4 players.

Game Components of Ovni

Player boards: Each player has a unique board representing their alien race.

City tiles: 12 tiles representing different human cities.

Abduction tokens: Tokens used to mark abducted humans.

Alien units: Game pieces for each player’s alien forces.

Resource tokens: Tokens for managing resources.

Random event cards: Cards introducing challenges and opportunities.

How To Setup Ovni

To set up Ovni, each player chooses an alien race and receives the corresponding player board and alien units. The city tiles are shuffled and laid out on the table, forming the map of Earth. Each player starts with a set amount of resource tokens and abduction tokens. Random event cards are shuffled and placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Control: Players compete to control and map human cities.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources to perform actions.

Abduction Mechanics: Players use their alien units to abduct humans from cities.

Random Events: Players draw event cards that can either help or hinder their progress.

Objective: The game objective is to be the first player to map all 12 human cities and abduct a set number of humans.

Player Experience

Playing Ovni involves a mix of strategic planning and tactical execution. Players need to balance resource management with aggressive abduction strategies, all while dealing with random events that can significantly impact the game. The game requires a blend of short-term and long-term thinking, making it engaging and challenging.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Ovni offers deep strategic gameplay with multiple paths to victory.

Replayability: The random event cards and variable player powers ensure high replayability.

Thematic Integrity: The game theme of alien invasion is well-integrated into the mechanics.

Cons

Complexity: The game has a moderate to high complexity level, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Length: Games can be quite long, especially with four players.

Luck Factor: Random events can sometimes feel unfair or unbalanced.

Personal Thoughts on Ovni

Ovni is ideal for strategy game enthusiasts who enjoy complex, thematic games. It is particularly suited for players who like resource management and area control mechanics. However, due to its complexity and length, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers or those looking for a quick, light-hearted experience.

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