War of the Buttons (2018) Board Game

War of the Buttons is a board game based on the classic French novel “La Guerre des Boutons” by Louis Pergaud. The novel has been adapted into several films, and now it has inspired this tabletop game designed by Andreas Steding. The game captures the essence of the novel’s theme of children’s rivalries and battles.

Game Components of War of the Buttons

Dice: Players use both their own dice and neutral dice.

Game Board: Features areas such as the school, village, and forests/fields.

Buttons: Laser-cut buttons serve as currency.

Bonus Tiles: Offer large rewards like sticks or stars.

Ability Cards: Provide instant or ongoing abilities and regular income.

Big Brother and Neutral Dice: Additional help mechanisms.

Clubhouse Sticks and Stars: Required to win the game.

How To Setup War of the Buttons

To set up the game, each player chooses a gang and receives a set of dice. The game board is placed in the middle, and the various areas (school, village, forests/fields) are prepared with their respective action spaces. Players also receive starting ability cards and a few buttons. The objective is to build a hut by collecting sticks or stars, and the game is ready to start once all components are distributed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll their dice to determine which actions they can take.

Worker Placement: Dice are placed on different areas of the board to perform actions.

Resource Collection: Collect buttons by placing dice in the village or fighting in the forests/fields.

Fighting Mechanic: Use dice to fight other players’ gangs; higher numbers or doubles/triples can oust opponents.

School Actions: Buy sticks or stars, free dice from detention, or tattle on opponents.

Big Brother Help: Recruit additional dice from neighboring towns.

Objective: Collect 6 sticks to build the clubhouse or 6 stars to win.

Player Experience

War of the Buttons offers a competitive and strategic experience with a light to medium complexity level, making it accessible to a wide range of players. The game is highly thematic, with mechanics that closely align with the story of young boys fighting and collecting buttons. Players need to balance resource collection, fighting, and strategic dice placement to outmaneuver their opponents.

Pros

Thematic Integration: The game’s mechanics are well-integrated with the theme of the novel.

Strategic Depth: Despite its light complexity, the game offers meaningful strategic decisions.

High Production Quality: Laser-cut buttons and a well-designed board enhance the playing experience.

Competitive Feel: Limited action spaces and the fighting mechanic create a competitive atmosphere.

Cons

Two-Player Issues: Some reviewers noted issues with the game’s balance and enjoyment for two players.

Forgettable Rules: Certain rules, like the tattling mechanism, can be easy to forget.

Luck Mitigation: While players can manipulate dice values, there is still an element of luck involved.

Personal Thoughts on War of the Buttons

War of the Buttons is ideal for those who enjoy light to medium-weight eurogames with strong thematic elements. It is a great gateway game for newcomers to the genre due to its simplicity and engaging mechanics. However, experienced players might find it less compelling compared to more complex games like Bora Bora. Overall, it’s a fun and strategic game that brings a unique and quirky theme to the table.

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