Whale to Look (2023) Board Game

Whale to Look is a board game designed by Bruno Faidutti and Jun Sasaki, and published by Oink Games. It was released in 2023 and is suitable for 2 to 5 players, with a recommended age of 9 and above. The game falls under the category of Animals and features betting and bluffing, as well as grid movement as its main mechanisms.

Game Components of Whale to Look

27 Diamond-Shaped Cards

15 Wooden Boats

25 Wooden Investigation Markers

1 Wooden Whale Token

1 Wooden Orca Token

65 Chips (various types)

12 Fish Cards

6 Area Cards

5 Dock Cards

30 Tourist Tokens

5 Fisher Tokens

4 Trending Cards

20 Score Chips

5 Radar Tokens

5 Anchor Tokens

Game Manuals in English, German, French, and Spanish.

How To Setup Whale to Look

To set up the game, players start by placing the area cards on the table, representing different locations in the bay. Each player chooses a dock card and places their boat tokens accordingly. The whale and orca tokens are also placed randomly on the area cards. Players receive investigation markers and radar tokens to aid in their decision-making. The game is ready to start once all components are distributed and the initial setup is complete.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Grid Movement: Players move their boats to different areas in the bay.

Betting and Bluffing: Players make strategic decisions based on limited information and sometimes follow rival companies.

Deduction: Players use investigation markers and radar tokens to deduce the likely locations of the whale and orca.

Game Objective

The objective is to score points by positioning your boat in the area where the whale or orca appears. Points are awarded based on the number of tourists in the boat and any bonus points for placing an anchor token in the correct location. The game consists of two rounds, with the second round introducing trending cards that can alter scoring rules.

Player Experience

In Whale to Look, players take on the roles of tour companies competing to show tourists the most impressive marine life. The game is filled with moments of deduction, strategic betting, and a bit of bluffing. Players must balance their own investigations with the need to follow rival companies, adding a social and interactive element to the game. The game’s components, including the wooden tokens and colorful area cards, enhance the thematic experience, making it visually appealing and engaging.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The whale-watching theme is unique and appealing.

Simple yet Strategic: Easy to learn but requires strategic thinking.

Good for All Player Counts: Plays well with 2-5 players.

Quick Playtime: Games last approximately 30 minutes.

High Replayability: Random placement of tokens and trending cards ensure different experiences each game.

Cons

Component Color Confusion: The yellow color of the radar tokens can be confusing since it matches one of the player colors.

Fiddly Components: Investigation tokens can be a bit hard to handle.

Personal Thoughts on Whale to Look

Whale to Look is an excellent addition to any board game collection, particularly for those who enjoy games with a mix of deduction, strategy, and social interaction. It is suitable for families and casual gamers due to its simple rules and engaging theme. However, it also offers enough depth to keep experienced gamers entertained. If you’re looking for a game that’s easy to set up, plays quickly, and provides a fun, strategic experience, Whale to Look is a great choice.

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