Vicious Fishes (2010) Board Game

Vicious Fishes is a board game released in 2010, designed by Angelo Porazzi and Néstor Romeral Andrés. The game is all about marine life and challenges players to strategically place tiles to create the best fish habitats.

Game Components of Vicious Fishes

Fish Tiles: 54 tiles in six colors, plus multi-color fish and rock tiles.

Board: An 8×8 grid made of compressed foam, depicting a pond.

Score Track: Runs along the side of the board.

Mission Tiles: Each player receives a tile showing three colors.

Foam Screens: Diminutive screens for each player to keep their tiles hidden.

Black “Bone” Discs: Indicate consumed fish.

Special Tiles: Include crabs and octopi with unique abilities.

How To Setup Vicious Fishes

To set up Vicious Fishes, players begin by randomly placing the rock tiles on the board. Each player receives six fish tiles and a mission tile, which they keep secret behind their foam screens. The remaining fish tiles are mixed and kept face-down on the table. The game starts with each player placing one of their tiles on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players take turns placing one fish tile on the board.

Attack Mechanics: Fish attack adjacent fish if their value is higher, scoring points.

Special Abilities: Crabs attack left and right, while octopi attack all adjacent fish.

Consumed Fish: Marked with a black “bone” disc and remain on the board.

Surrounded Fish: Score points if a fish is completely surrounded and survives.

Mission Tiles: Players aim to score in two colors while minimizing the score in the third color on their mission tile.

Game End: The game ends when the board is filled, and players reveal their mission tiles to calculate the final scores.

Player Experience

Vicious Fishes offers a tactical yet accessible experience, making it ideal for family play. The game is simple to learn, with amusing artwork and basic tactics. However, the game’s randomness increases with more players, making control over outcomes more challenging. With two to three players, there is more control, but with five or six players, the game becomes more unpredictable.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Easy to learn and suitable for young children.

Tactical Depth: Simple yet engaging gameplay.

Quick Games: Typical playing time is 30 minutes.

Unique Mechanics: Special abilities of crabs and octopi add variety.

Cons

High Randomness: Tile draw and mission tiles can lead to significant variability in player outcomes.

Less Control with More Players: Game becomes more unpredictable with five or six players.

Packaging Issues: Game components are oddly packaged in cloth tubes.

Personal Thoughts on Vicious Fishes

Vicious Fishes is a great choice for families or casual gamers looking for a light, fun experience. The game’s simplicity and short playing time make it accessible to a wide range of players. However, for serious gamers or those who prefer strategic games with less randomness, Vicious Fishes might not be the best fit. It’s an excellent addition to any family game collection, offering a cute and engaging way to spend time together.

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