Ukiyo (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Ukiyo is a card game released in 2020, designed by Imaginaires and Janette Ramos. The game is set in the Ukiyo-e art style, a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings that flourished during the Edo period. Players are immersed in a beautiful and serene world as they try to create harmonious landscapes in the game.

Game Components of Ukiyo

Cards: 16 (sometimes referred to as 18, but this includes the solo challenge cards) featuring four different Japanese symbols: Crane (origami bird), Sakura (cherry blossom), Acorn, and Butterfly. Each card has a unique combination of these symbols and an objective task.

Solo Challenge Card: Provides various puzzle challenges for solo mode.

Language: Available in English, French, and German.

How To Setup Ukiyo

To set up Ukiyo, shuffle the 16 game cards and deal them according to the number of players: 7 cards each for 2 players, 5 cards each for 3 players, and 4 cards each for 4 players. In solo mode, select the challenge objectives and lay out the corresponding cards, then shuffle the remaining cards into a deck.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Multiplayer:
– Players take turns laying cards horizontally or vertically within a 6×6 symbol grid.
– The goal is to complete the task on the last card in your hand once all other cards have been played.
– Cards can overlap, but symbols must stay within the 6×6 grid.

Solo:
– Complete puzzle challenges by laying cards to satisfy multiple objective tasks.
– Challenges range from easy to brutal, involving combinations of two, three, or four tasks.

Objective Tasks: Examples include creating a line of four acorns or ensuring all corners match.

Player Experience

Ukiyo is a fast-paced, puzzly game that rewards fluid play and adaptation. In multiplayer, players must navigate the changing grid to achieve their objectives, often needing to adjust strategies based on other players’ moves. The game is highly portable and can be played in just 5-10 minutes, making it an excellent travel game.

Pros

Portable: Fits in a pocket and requires minimal space to play.

Simple Rules: Easy to learn and teach.

High Replayability: Infinite combinations ensure a different game each time.

Challenging: Solo mode offers increasingly difficult puzzles.

Cons

Limited Player Interaction: Players’ actions may affect others, but it’s often unintentional.

Artwork: Currently simplistic, not fully aligning with the game’s theme.

Personal Thoughts on Ukiyo

Ukiyo is ideal for those who enjoy quick, puzzly games that require strategic thinking. It’s perfect for travelers due to its compact size and for families with children aged 8+ due to its simplicity and increasing difficulty levels. While it may not offer deep player interaction, it excels in providing a satisfying solo experience and a fun, fast-paced multiplayer game.

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