Tiny Farms (2020) Board Game

Tiny Farms is a family-friendly board game released in 2020, designed by Eric J. Carter and Christopher Kirkman. The game is set in the world of farming, where players take on the role of farmers competing to build the most successful farm. With its cute artwork and engaging gameplay, Tiny Farms has garnered attention from both casual gamers and board game enthusiasts alike.

Game Components of Tiny Farms

Dice Rondel: A unique dice rondel with a patent-pending Rolldel Wheel-o-Matic.

Shared Pawns: Red and blue farmer meeples.

Farm Sheets: 4×4 grids for each player to manage two farms.

Milk Tokens: Tokens to modify the values of dice by ±1.

Dice: Rolled to determine player actions.

Animal Symbols: Used to mark animals on the farm sheets.

How To Setup Tiny Farms

To set up Tiny Farms, each player receives two 4×4 farm sheets and some milk tokens. The dice rondel is placed in the center with the Rolldel Wheel-o-Matic overlay. The red and blue farmer meeples are positioned on the rondel. Players are ready to start drafting animals once the initial setup is complete.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Roll-and-Write: Players draft dice and write the corresponding animals on their farm sheets.

Dice Drafting: Players take turns drafting dice to move the farmer meeples and collect animals.

Rondel Mechanic: The Rolldel Wheel-o-Matic rotates to change the available animals each round.

Token Management: Milk tokens can modify dice values.

Game Objective

Collect and place animals on the farm sheets to meet scoring conditions.

Score points for sets of adjacent animals, the most animals of a kind, and unused milk tokens.

Avoid penalties for size differences between the two farms.

Player Experience

Tiny Farms offers a fun and engaging experience suitable for families and casual gamers. The game is easy to learn but has enough depth to keep players interested. The unique dice rondel and Rolldel Wheel-o-Matic add a twist to the traditional roll-and-write mechanic, making each round exciting and unpredictable.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 6 and above.

Quick Gameplay: Games last between 20-30 minutes.

Solo Mode: Includes a solo mode designed by Mike Mullins.

Unique Mechanics: The Rolldel Wheel-o-Matic adds a creative twist.

Cons

Luck Factor: The game involves a significant amount of luck due to dice rolling.

Limited Depth: May not appeal to experienced gamers seeking complex strategies.

Personal Thoughts on Tiny Farms

Tiny Farms is ideal for families, casual gamers, and those looking for a light, enjoyable game. It’s perfect for introducing children to board games due to its simple rules and short gameplay duration. However, experienced gamers might find it too light and reliant on luck rather than strategy. If you’re looking for a fun, relaxed game to play with family or friends, Tiny Farms is a great choice.

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