Skate Summer (2022) Board Game

Skate Summer is a board game released in 2022, designed by Pape Ink and published by Pandasaurus Games. It falls under the sports category and is designed for 2-5 players, with a recommended age of 14 and above. The game combines elements of area movement, dice rolling, and hexagon grid mechanics to simulate the thrill and excitement of skateboarding.

Game Components of Skate Summer

Individual player boards

Mini-decks of Trick cards and Special Trick cards

Custom dice (Balance dice and Direction die)

Big Air die

Skateboard miniatures

Player landing markers

Score markers

Manual move tokens

Flame tokens

Skill cubes

Goal tokens

Upgrade markers for the SKATER spaces

Revert Ramp tokens

Balance tokens.

How To Setup Skate Summer

Setting up *Skate Summer* is quite involved. Start by laying out the main board and placing one large and one small goal token face down onto each circular space. Set the endgame marker to either 50, 70, or 90 points, depending on the desired game length. Shuffle the Trick deck and Special Trick deck, and place them near the board along with the flame tokens, manual tokens, and dice. Each player selects a character, takes their colored board, skateboard miniature, player landing marker, and score marker. Each player sets up their board with the appropriate markers and places the balance token in the center of the balance track. Each player receives five Trick cards, one manual move token, and a skill cube of each color. Finally, place the skater meeple into the central space of the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Collect as many points as possible by performing trick combos, collecting Goal icons, and maximizing personal skater abilities.

Game Phases:
– Phase 1: Players simultaneously play Trick cards to their boards, trying to maintain balance and score points.
– Phase 2: Players score points for the cards played in Phase 1.
– Phase 3: Players move around the board, collect items, upgrade their boards, and visit SKATER upgrade spaces.
– Final Phase: Clean up and reset for the next round or end the game if the scoring threshold is reached.

Mechanics: Trick card management, push-your-luck, area movement, dice rolling, and player board upgrades.

Player Experience

*Skate Summer* offers a highly engaging and tense gameplay experience. Players must balance the risk of bailing out with the reward of scoring points and advancing their skater’s abilities. The game is divided into distinct phases, each requiring different strategies and attentions. The multi-use cards add a unique layer of complexity, as players must consider how each card will be used in different phases of the game. The game’s thematic elements, such as the Big Air space and Revert Ramps, enhance the sense of excitement and progression.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The game’s push-your-luck mechanism and multi-use cards create a tense and strategic experience.

Thematic Design: The game is rich in skateboarding themes, making it enjoyable for both skateboard enthusiasts and newcomers.

Varied Scoring: Multiple ways to score points keep the game dynamic and challenging.

Visual Appeal: Stylish graphics and custom components make the game visually appealing.

Cons

Complex Setup: The setup process is lengthy and involves many steps, which can be daunting for new players.

Fiddly Components: The game requires managing multiple tokens, dice, and card decks, which can be fiddly.

Personal Thoughts on Skate Summer

*Skate Summer* is ideal for players who enjoy complex, strategic games with a strong thematic focus. It is particularly appealing to fans of skateboarding, but its unique mechanics and engaging gameplay make it accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience. However, due to its complex setup and fiddly components, it may not be the best fit for casual or new board game players. For those willing to invest time in learning the rules and setting up the game, *Skate Summer* offers a rewarding and challenging experience.

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