Yosemite (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Yosemite is a board game released in 2022, designed by Beth Sobel and illustrated by WizKids. It falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy and Animals, featuring game mechanisms such as Action Queue, Grid Movement, and Set Collection. The game is designed for 2 players, aged 12 and above, with a playtime of around 20 minutes.

Game Components of Yosemite

Animal Tiles: 5 different types (bear, fox, snake, mountain lion, and longhorn sheep).

Landmark Tokens: Matching spaces on the board.

Photo Cards: Representing famous areas of Yosemite National Park.

Judge Cards: Influencing scoring based on animal collections.

Camping Token** and **Tent Tokens: For scoring camping points.

Fish Tokens: For movement.

Pawn: For each player.

Board: A 5×5 grid for animal tiles and additional spaces for Photo Cards, Judge Cards, and Landmark Tokens.

How To Setup Yosemite

To set up Yosemite, start by placing the board between players. Shuffle the Animal Tiles and deal five to each player. Create a 5×5 grid below the game board using 25 Animal Tiles. Shuffle the Landmark tiles into the remaining tile stack. Place the white Camping Token on the board, not on the Camping Track, and position the Tent Tokens nearby. Shuffle the Photo Cards, remove ten, and reveal two, placing them on the top-left of the board. Shuffle the Judge Cards and reveal two, placing them on the top-right. Each player gets a pawn and a Fish token, which is placed on 2. The start player places their pawn on an Animal tile of their choice, and the other player places their pawn on any other Animal tile.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Eat Fish (Optional): Spend Fish tokens to move one space per token.

Movement: Move based on the animal tile you are leaving (e.g., fox tile allows up to three spaces, bear tile moves two spaces and allows moving an opponent’s hiker).

Reset: Replace removed Animal Tiles and discard excess tiles from hand.

Game End: Ends after the ninth Photo Card is taken.

Scoring:

Photos: Tally points from completed Photo Cards.

Camping: Score points based on Camping Token position and Tent Tokens.

Judges: Gain points if you have the most of the pictured animals.

Landmarks: Score points for matching Photo Cards.

Player Experience

Yosemite offers a fast-paced and strategic experience, encouraging players to navigate a grid of animal tiles to collect sets needed for photo objectives. The game requires planning ahead, as the movement mechanics dictated by the animal tiles add a puzzle-like challenge. Players must balance collecting the right animals, disrupting their opponent’s plans, and optimizing their turns to complete photos efficiently.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Combines set collection, grid movement, and bonus actions for a engaging gameplay.

Beautiful Artwork: Beth Sobel’s art enhances the game’s aesthetic.

Short Playtime: Games typically last between 16-30 minutes.

Competitive Feel: Encourages tactical thinking and competition between players.

Cons

Lack of Player Aid: No player aid can make remembering animal movement rules challenging.

Limited Player Count: Only plays with two players.

Steep Learning Curve: Understanding the animal movement mechanics can take time.

Personal Thoughts on Yosemite

Yosemite is ideal for fans of strategic two-player games who enjoy puzzle-like challenges and competitive play. It is a great addition to any collection of two-player games, offering a unique blend of set collection and grid movement. While it may take some time to master the animal movement rules, the game’s short playtime and beautiful artwork make it a worthwhile investment for those looking to engage in a thinky and fun game.

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