Raccoon Tycoon (2018) Board Game

Raccoon Tycoon is a board game designed by Glenn Drover and published by Forbidden Games in in 2018. It is a strategic game that combines elements of auction, bidding, commodity speculation, market manipulation, and set collection. The game is set in Astoria, a land full of whimsical animals, where players take on the roles of entrepreneurial raccoons aiming to become the wealthiest tycoon in town.

Game Components of Raccoon Tycoon

Board: Central game board depicting the town of Astoria.

Cards: 40 Railroad cards, Town cards, and other market cards.

Tiles: 27 Building tiles.

Tokens: Market track tokens.

Artwork: Beautiful, deluxe watercolor paintings by Annie Stegg.

Components: Standard tokens and potentially wooden components in special editions.

How To Setup Raccoon Tycoon

To set up the game, place the board in the center. Shuffle and distribute the cards and building tiles according to the rulebook. Place the tokens on the market tracks. This setup process is quick, taking only about 2 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics: Auctions, set collection, economic management, and tableau building.

Game Objective: Players aim to become the wealthiest magnate by accumulating Victory Points.

Actions: On their turn, players can choose one of five actions: buying Railroad cards, Town cards, or Building tiles, participating in auctions, or managing their resources and market positions.

Auctions: Players bid on Railroad cards and other valuable items, with auctions becoming increasingly intense as the game progresses.

Resource Management: Players must manage commodities and cash to make strategic purchases and investments.

Player Experience

Playing Raccoon Tycoon involves a mix of strategic planning and adaptability. Each action is straightforward, but deciding when to use them is a key part of the game. Players need to keep an eye on other players’ resources and market positions to manipulate the market effectively. The game starts off slowly but gains momentum as players accumulate money and commodities, leading to a satisfying crescendo. The auctions are particularly thrilling, with players often bidding high amounts to secure crucial cards.

Pros

Replayability: Each game offers a different experience due to the random distribution of cards and tiles.

Accessible Strategy: Simple, approachable rules make the game easy to learn, but it offers depth for repeated play.

Beautiful Artwork: The game features enchanting watercolor paintings that enhance the game’s atmosphere.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for a wide range of ages, from children to adults.

Multiple Paths to Victory: Players can collect sets of Railroad cards, pair them with Town cards, and acquire Building tiles to earn points.

Cons

Pace Issues: The game can feel slow in the early to mid-game due to the limited number of actions per turn.

Lack of Innovation: The game does not introduce new mechanics but combines familiar elements in an enjoyable way.

Artwork Consistency: The art style on the building cards is less polished compared to other components.

Personal Thoughts on Raccoon Tycoon

Raccoon Tycoon is a really good game that is perfect for families and strategy enthusiasts. While it doesn’t bring anything revolutionary to the table, it stitched together familiar mechanics in a way that creates an enjoyable experience. The game is suitable for a broad age range, making it an excellent addition to any game collection. However, it may appeal more to those who enjoy auction mechanics and economic management rather than those seeking highly innovative gameplay.

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