Ramen! Ramen! (2021) Board Game

Ramen! Ramen! is a card game released in 2021 by Japanime Games. It is designed by Brendan Hansen and features artwork by David Bock and Eveen Kwan. The game is themed around the popular Japanese dish, ramen, and incorporates elements of hand management, set collection, and push your luck mechanics.

Game Components of Ramen Ramen!

Number of Cards: 60 standard cards and 3 oversized cards.

Player Count: 1-4 players.

Age Range: 8 and up.

Components: Ramen bowls, ingredient cards, and scoring system.

How To Setup Ramen Ramen!

To set up the game, players start by shuffling the deck of ingredient cards and placing them within reach. Each player selects a ramen bowl to work on, and the game begins with each player drawing a set of cards to form their starting hand. The objective is to quickly and carefully craft the most delicious ramen bowls.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Hand Management: Players manage their hand of ingredient cards to build high-scoring ramen bowls.

Open Drafting: Players draft ingredients openly, trying to outmaneuver their opponents.

Push Your Luck: Players take risks to add more ingredients, balancing the need for high points against the risk of giving opponents scoring opportunities.

Kill Steal: Players can steal points from their opponents by strategically adding ingredients.

Score-and-Reset: Points are counted at the end of the game, and the player with the highest score wins.

Set Collection: Building sets of ingredients to maximize points.

Objective: The goal is to serve the most and the best bowls of ramen to win all the day’s tips.

Player Experience

In Ramen Ramen!, players are immersed in a fast-paced kitchen environment where they must think quickly and strategically. The game encourages a mix of cooperation and competition as players work to create the perfect ramen while trying to sabotage their opponents’ efforts. The game lasts approximately 30 minutes, making it a quick and engaging experience.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The ramen shop setting adds a fun and unique twist to the game.

Simple to Learn: The rules are easy to understand, making it accessible to a wide range of players.

Strategic Depth: The game offers several mechanics that require strategic thinking and planning.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and above, making it a great family game.

Cons

Luck Factor: The game involves a degree of luck, which might frustrate some players who prefer more control.

Limited Replayability: Some players might find the game repetitive after multiple plays.

Personal Thoughts on Ramen Ramen!

Ramen Ramen is perfect for families, casual gamers, and anyone who loves a quick, engaging game with a unique theme. It’s ideal for those who enjoy strategic card games and are looking for something that can be played in under an hour. However, players seeking complex, long-duration games or those who dislike games with a luck element might find this game less appealing. Overall, it’s a fun and lively addition to any game collection.

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