Rossio (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Rossio is a board game released in 2020, designed by Olivier Fagnère and illustrated by PYTHAGORAS. The game is set in Lisbon, Portugal, and is published by LongPack Games. It falls under the category of area majority, influence, hand management, modular board, pattern building, pattern recognition, and tile placement.

Game Components of Rossio

Player boards: Each player receives a small board to hold four pattern tiles and a few cards.

Pattern tiles: Used to build the mosaic square.

Cards: Played to score points or earn coins.

Building illustrations: Overhead illustrations of the buildings around Rossio Square for setup.

Coin and point tokens: For scoring and economy.

ROSS deck: For solo mode, introducing ROSS as an opponent.

How To Setup Rossio

Setup involves establishing the interlocking borders of the puzzle using the overhead illustrations of the buildings around Rossio Square. The size of the puzzle depends on the number of players. Each player receives their personal board and initial cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile-laying: Players place tiles to build the mosaic square.

Card play: Cards are laid face down for coins or face up to score points based on pattern appearances.

Pattern recognition: Scoring points by identifying patterns across the square.

Resource management: Managing coins to play cards.

Solo mode: Introduces ROSS as an opponent with adjustable difficulty.

Player Experience

Playing **Rossio** feels like building a jigsaw puzzle, with each turn involving three steps: laying a card, sliding previous cards, and activating the current set of cards. The game has a subdued charm with satisfying tile placement and interactive competition. Players can cut off others’ efforts while advancing their own, creating a friendly tension.

Pros

Easy to read components: Language-independent and clear.

Thorough rulebook: Multi-lingual with detailed examples.

Interactive gameplay: Allows strategic tile placement.

Solo mode: Offers a challenging duel against ROSS.

Cons

Not flashy: The game’s design is not overly dramatic.

Initial destitution: Players start with no coins, making the first turn face-down card play necessary.

Personal Thoughts on Rossio

**Rossio** is ideal for those who enjoy strategic, low-key competition and pattern-building games. It’s a game that rewards careful planning and strategic card play without being overly complex. While it may not be an award-winner, it offers a solid gaming experience that can keep players engaged for multiple sessions. If you’re looking for a game with sturdy mechanisms and interesting decisions, **Rossio** is a great choice.

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