Tornado Ellie (2015) Board Game

Tornado Ellie is a board game released in 2015, designed by Marek Bláha and featuring artwork by FoxGames, HUCH!, and Viravi Edicions. The game falls under the category of Action/Dexterity, Animals, and Children’s Game, with a theme revolving around weather and animals, specifically cattle and cows.

Game Components of Tornado Ellie

90 cards featuring various animals (pigs, hens, sheep, cows)

1 tornado track

1 large wooden disc

1 tornado base

1 small guide cylinder

4 cardboard supports

12 houses

12 cows

12 trees

1 rule book

Barn-shaped and cow meeples, and tree cylinders.

How To Setup Tornado Ellie

To set up the game, players assemble the grooved board on top of four strips of cardboard, forming a platform. The tornado board is then placed on this platform, held in place by a small cylinder. Each player starts with a hand of four double-sided cards and their respective farm items such as barns, cows, and trees. The players guide the tornado from player to player during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card drafting and placement

Dexterity and stacking

Strategic animal sacrifice

Game Objective

Players must provide cards showing the same or more animals than the previous one to keep the tornado at bay.

The tornado is turned towards the next player each turn.

If a player cannot place a suitable card, items from their farm are added to the tornado pile.

The player with the most valuable farm at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

Tornado Ellie offers a whimsical and interactive experience, particularly appealing to children. The game involves a mix of card strategy and dexterity, as players must carefully stack tokens to avoid them toppling over. However, the gameplay can become repetitive and frustrating, especially for older players. The theme, while visually engaging with its colorful animal caricatures, can feel somewhat nonsensical and may not fully engage adult players.

Pros

Easy to teach and learn

Whimsical graphics and engaging for children

Good quality wooden tokens

Quick playing time, suitable for short sessions

Cons

Rules can be unclear on certain aspects

Theme may not make sense to all players

Stacking tokens can become frustrating

Limited reward and joy in gameplay for older players.

Personal Thoughts on Tornado Ellie

Tornado Ellie is best suited for younger players who enjoy the silly nature of building and watching token stacks fall. While it is visually appealing and easy to learn, it lacks depth and clarity in its rules, making it less appealing for older players seeking a more complex dexterity game. If you’re looking for a light, family-friendly game, Tornado Ellie might be worth considering, but for those seeking a more challenging dexterity game, there are better alternatives available.

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