The Whatnot Cabinet (2021) Board Game

The Whatnot Cabinet is a board game that was released in 2021 by Pencil First Games, LLC. It was designed by Eduardo Baraf, Steve Finn, and Keith Matejka, with artwork by Kim Robinson and Beth Sobel. The game falls under the puzzle category and incorporates mechanisms such as open drafting, set collection, solo/solitaire gameplay, and tile placement.

Game Components of The Whatnot Cabinet

Journey Board: Central to the game, dictating turn order and tile selection.

Cabinet Boards: Each player has a board to fill with tiles.

Coloured Pawns: Used to track player positions on the Journey Board.

Object Tiles: Drawn from a bag, these tiles are placed in the cabinet.

Curiosity Cards: One-off bonus objectives available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wonder Card: Provides points for specific types of objects in the cabinet.

Rulebook and Player Aids: Compact and user-friendly, helping new players understand the game.

How To Setup The Whatnot Cabinet

Setup involves placing the Journey Board in the middle of the table. For all player counts, draw four tiles from the bag to form the Outdoors and five Curiosity Cards above the Journey Board. Select one Wonder Card and place it nearby. In a three or four player game, each player gets a coloured pawn and a matching cabinet board. For two players, each gets two pawns of the same colour and the matching board, with the option to remove some tiles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place two tiles in their cabinet each turn.

Drafting: Tiles are selected based on the Journey Board.

Set Collection: Points are earned by collecting sets of the same type or colour.

Scoring:
– Rows and columns scored separately.
– Maximum points for all the same type (4 points) or all the same colour (3 points).
– Mixed tiles score lower or zero.
– Curiosity Cards and Wonder Card provide additional scoring opportunities.
– Special tiles with crowns or bonus tiles offer extra points.

Player Experience

The Whatnot Cabinet offers a delightful puzzle where players aim to maximize their scores by efficiently placing tiles. The game is tantalizing, making it seem possible to achieve perfect shelf organization, but in reality, it often requires balancing which shelves to score zero on due to the luck element of drawn tiles. This balance between strategy and adaptation is the core puzzle of the game.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Quick and simple setup, with a compact rulebook.

Engaging Puzzle: Challenges players to optimize their tile placements.

Short Gameplay: Games last about 18 minutes.

Family-Friendly: Recommended for ages 8+.

Visual Appeal: Beautiful artwork and well-designed components.

Cons

Luck Element: The random draw of tiles can sometimes hinder strategy.

Limited Complexity: May not appeal to players seeking more complex games.

Personal Thoughts on The Whatnot Cabinet

The Whatnot Cabinet is ideal for those looking for a light, fun, and engaging puzzle game. It’s perfect for new gamers due to its easy-to-understand mechanics and short gameplay duration. The game’s design and components make it an excellent choice for families or casual game nights, offering enough depth to keep players interested without overwhelming them.

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