Tonari (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Tonari is an abstract strategy board game that was released in in 2019. It is designed by Kwanchai Moriya and Julián Tunni, with artwork by IDW Games. The game is best suited for 2-3 players and has a runtime of 30-45 minutes. Players must strategically place their tiles on a hexagonal grid board to score points and outwit their opponents.

Game Components of Tonari

Game Board: Representing the island of Kuchinoshima.

Boat Token: A wooden token used for movement.

Fish Tokens: Various colored fish (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink) and Purple tokens (representing flotsam).

Skill Tokens: Special tokens that allow players to manipulate fish tiles, swap fish with opponents, or remove tokens from the board.

Insert: For storing and organizing the components.

How To Setup Tonari

To set up Tonari, place the game board in the center of the table. Shuffle the fish and skill tokens, then lay them out face-up on the board spaces. Determine the first player, and the player to the right of the first player places the boat token on one of the two island hexes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Accumulate the most Victory Points by collecting a variety of fish.

Turns: Each player moves the boat to an adjacent space with a token and collects it.

Fish Collection:
– Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow fish score points based on quantity collected.
– Orange fish award 8 points to the player with the most, or no points if there’s a tie.
– Pink fish are worth 5 points each but require a specific move (jumping over an empty space).
– Purple tokens are worth -5 points each.

Skill Tokens: Allow actions like swapping fish, removing tokens, or doubling the value of a fish type.

End Game: The game ends when no valid moves are left. Players calculate their scores, adding the score of the player to their left in games with 3 or 4 players.

Player Experience

Tonari offers a unique blend of competitive and semi-cooperative gameplay. In a 2-player game, it’s a straightforward competitive experience, but with 3 or 4 players, the dynamic shifts as each player’s score is added to the player on their left. This mechanic forces players to balance their own fish collection with helping or hindering their neighbors, creating a subtle yet engaging strategic layer.

Pros

Simple yet Strategic: Easy to learn but offers depth in gameplay.

Beautiful Components: High-quality, colorful tokens and an appealing game board.

Quick Playtime: Games last between 30-45 minutes.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 10 and above.

Balanced Mechanics: Encourages thoughtful play and strategic thinking.

Cons

Luck Element: Token placement can be random, affecting strategy.

Dependence on Neighbor’s Score: In 3-4 player games, your score is heavily influenced by the player to your left.

Personal Thoughts on Tonari

Tonari is an excellent choice for those looking for a light-weight, yet thought-provoking game. It’s perfect for families or casual gamers who appreciate simple rules with strategic depth. The game’s unique scoring mechanism adds a layer of social interaction, making it a great introduction to semi-cooperative gameplay. If you’re looking for a game that’s easy to set up, teaches quickly, and offers a fun, engaging experience, Tonari is definitely worth checking out.

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