The Gig (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The Gig Board Game was released in 2023 and is designed by Dann May, Lewis Shaw, and Robb Smigielski. It is a music-themed game that combines dice rolling, pattern building, and real-time gameplay. The game is published by Braincrack Games and is suitable for 1-4 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up.

Game Components of The Gig

Dice: Representing musical notes, each die has pips 1 to 6.

Song Books: Central play area where players place their dice.

Player Boards: Unique, asymmetrical boards for each instrument (drums, bass, trombone, guitar, piano, trumpet, vocals, and three bonus instruments).

Spotlight Tokens: For investing in fan cards.

Fan Cards: Provide victory points based on specific criteria.

Sharp, Flat, Rest, and Repeat Tokens: For modifying dice values.

Harmony Section: Area for placing dice to get multipliers.

How To Setup The Gig

To set up the game, each player selects a unique instrument player board. The song books are shuffled and placed in a set list order. Each player receives a set of dice and any specific tokens related to their instrument. The fan cards are prepared for the Applause phase.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Real-Time Dice Rolling: Players roll and place dice simultaneously into the song book.

Song Phase: Players compete for spaces in the song book, aiming to create a configuration that fits their instrument.

Bridge Phase: Players take their dice from the song book and place them into their personal instrument board to create a solo.

Applause Phase: Players invest in fan cards using spotlight tokens.

Tuneup/Cleanup Phase: Players prepare for the next song.

Objective: The player with the most points, gained from solos, audience cards, harmonies, and symbol sets, wins the game.

Player Experience

The Gig offers a fast-paced and exciting experience, with each game lasting about 20 to 30 minutes. Players must be flexible and adaptable as they roll and place dice in real-time, competing for the best spaces in the song book. The unique instrument boards add a layer of complexity and replayability, as each instrument has its own scoring rules and challenges.

Pros

Fast-Paced and Exciting: Real-time gameplay keeps players engaged.

High Replayability: Unique instrument boards and fan cards offer different experiences each game.

Variety in Instruments: Eight unique instruments plus three bonus ones provide diverse gameplay.

Simple to Learn: Easy to understand mechanics, but challenging to master.

Cons

Real-Time Stress: Can be intense for players who prefer more strategic, turn-based games.

Component Management: Managing the various tokens and dice can be overwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on The Gig

The Gig is perfect for those who enjoy real-time games, dice rolling, and worker placement mechanics. It is ideal for players who appreciate a game that combines strategy with the excitement of improvisation. The game’s short duration and high replayability make it a great addition to any game collection, especially for fans of music-themed games. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer more relaxed or turn-based gameplay experiences.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.