Unfair (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Unfair is a board game released in 2017 by designer Joel Finch and published by Choo Choo Games. It falls under the categories of card game, city building, economic, and print & play. The game is designed for 2-5 players, with a recommended player count of 3-4, and has a runtime of 50-125 minutes.

Game Components of Unfair

6 themed packs of 57 cards (Jungle, Robots, Pirates, Vampires, Ninja & Gangster)

5 Game Changer cards

1 Blueprint closure reminder card

1 Double sided board

2 player reference sheets

1 Starting Player token

1 Current Step marker

1 Current Step miniature

16 page Rulebook

86 coin tokens (values of 1, 5, 25, and 125)

14 mesmerism tokens

Scorepad and pencil.

How To Setup Unfair

To set up Unfair, you start by selecting the themes you want to play with, ensuring the number of themes matches the number of players. Shuffle the decks for Park Cards, Event Cards, and Blueprint Cards separately. Deal each player 5 Park Cards, 20 coins, a Main Gate card, and a Loan Card. Place the selected Unfair City Cards and Funfair City Cards above the Blueprint warning card. Players can mulligan their hand if it doesn’t contain an attraction.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Build: Construct Park Cards from your hand or the Market by paying the required money.

Take: Choose cards from the Market, Event deck, or Blueprint deck, and add them to your hand.

Demolish: Remove an attraction or staff member from your park.

Loose Change: Collect money based on the attractions in your park.

Event Cards: Deal one event card per turn, which players can choose to play either the helping or hindering part.

Blueprints: Complete blueprints to earn points; incomplete blueprints deduct points.

Scoring: Points are awarded for coins, completed blueprints, staff members, and attraction icons. Deduct points for loans used.

Player Experience

Playing Unfair is a dynamic and interactive experience, where players must balance building their theme park with sabotaging their competitors. The game offers unparalleled replayability with over 20 variant subgames by mixing different themes. The Ninja and Gangster themes introduce advanced strategies and a reliance on luck, adding a layer of complexity and unpredictability. Players need to navigate events, loans, and the actions of other players to emerge victorious.

Pros

High Replayability: Multiple themes and variant subgames ensure the game stays fresh.

Interactive Gameplay: Sabotage mechanics add a fun and competitive element.

Strategic Depth: Combines engine-building and tableau-building mechanics.

Engaging for Various Groups: Suitable for couples and regular game groups.

Cons

Complex Setup: Initial setup and rule explanation can be time-consuming, especially for new players.

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can be lengthy due to the complexity and player interaction.

Luck Factor: Some themes and events introduce a significant luck element.

Personal Thoughts on Unfair

Unfair is perfect for those who enjoy strategic gameplay with a dash of social interaction. It’s ideal for players who like building and managing their own theme parks while also engaging in a bit of friendly sabotage. The game’s complexity and replayability make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who appreciate mid-weight strategy games. However, it may not be the best fit for newcomers to board gaming due to its intricate setup and rules.

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