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Diving deeper into the game, the components of Reef are where the game truly shines, invoking the vibrancy of a coral reef in full bloom. This isn’t a game of muted tones and drab tiles, it’s a visual feast, boasting chunky coral pieces in a multitude of vibrant hues. The game’s coral pieces are durable and visually pleasing, with four different colors – yellow, purple, green, and red – and unique shapes for each.
They then place these coral pieces anywhere on their board (on a blank space or on top of existing coral pieces). Once a piece is placed, it can not be moved for the rest of the game.Abstract strategy games seem to be on the rise in our hobby. Where they were once ignored due to their themeless nature and usually bland components, games like Azul, Santorini, and Onitama have reinvigorated the genre. Reef gets a high score on our “let’s play again” game meter. And not only from our family. It’s also a game that’s been a hit at our monthly Game Night with my buddies. Reef is a simple game to learn and play. Players try to score the most points by adding colorful coral pieces to their growing reef and scoring patterns. Which means there’s a fair amount of planning ahead and strategizing that may be difficult for younger players to grasp. In fact, it may also take older players an initial play or two before they really get the synergy of play.
Reef was designed by Emerson Matsuuchi and features Art by Chris Quilliams. It was originally published in 2018 by a number of publishers. My copy happens to be from Next Move Games which is a department of Plan B Games. The games also share a great attention to component quality. WhilstAzulhad a very classy look,Reefhas gone the route of bold and colourful, creating a different but still very appealing aesthetic on the table. The player aids could be improved to include a summary of possible actions and examples of scoring patterns.
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The game ends when one colour of coral runs out and the layer with the most accumulated points wins. With its indirect player interaction, Reef creates a deceptively serene gaming experience that belies the subtle competition bubbling underneath. The shared card draft is where most of the interaction occurs, as players can potentially disrupt each other’s strategies by taking desired cards. However, the competition is always friendly, fitting well with the game’s relaxed, family-friendly vibe. Once you throw in the full player count of four, the market can change a lot between turns and having any form of multiple turn strategy becomes much harder. I would go so far as to say that the game weight actually changes, becoming lower with more players. This could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your group. That's really where the similarities end.Reefis an abstract game that stands on its own as a family weight 2-4 player game. The colours might fool you into thinking the game is aimed at children, but there's actually a really neat card drafting, puzzly, three-dimensional game in Reef that we believe rivals its award winning predecessor. Let's take a closer look! Reef Gameplay It’s inevitable that players will take cards that you hope to get. So you’ll have to be able to adjust on the fly.
Players are tasked with growing a balanced, functioning and interdependent ecosystem, using 20 cards, in a 4x5 grid. The game consists of two equal rounds of ten cards played with scores totaled up at the end. Increasing complexity of strategy and tactics is created through the ways in which the cards interact with each other. There are 11 different types of cards, each with its own sea creature, including everything from microscopic Plankton to (noticeably) macroscopic Blue Whales. The cards are also divided up into different food networks (Producers, Prey, Predators) which have important implications for their scoring. All three games are beautifully designed, simple to learn, and offer a good amount of strategic depth. Reef stands out with its unique 3D gameplay, allowing players to build upwards, creating visually striking coral structures. If you enjoy abstract strategy games but prefer a calmer, more visually engaging experience with a slightly lower competitive edge, then Reef could be your game of choice. Hits and Misses Or the Star Realms Starter Set Bundle with Star Realms, Colony Wars and Frontiers https://amzn.to/3uffjNa Collect the most points by cleverly acquiring and playing cards that let you grow your reef and score its patterns.Of course, added to this is the fact that everyone else is trying to do the same thing, and may want the same card or cards that you do. Or perhaps they are just aiming for a massive payoff and you are need to stop them! Ah, the ocean. The tranquility. The mystery. And beneath the waves, a whole universe bustles in vivid color, full of life and adventure. This is the realm of Reef, a delightful abstract strategy game designed by Emerson Matsuuchi. The game places you in the metaphorical fins of a coral reef architect, working to cultivate the most beautiful and diverse coral formations on the ocean floor. The thing is that you shouldn’t let that lightness fool you. Reef is one of those deceptively easy to learn but difficult to master games. One of the first places you will notice this is with the timing rules for when you play a card.
Each piece can only count towards being part of one pattern. (No double-dipping.) If you can match the pattern shown at the bottom of the card, you score points. In this case it’s 6 points for the green pattern. Observe the growth of nature's most beautiful and exotic natural structure: the coral reef Found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region, it has taken reefs thousands of years to grow. Over that time, they have mesmerized marine life and created amazing aquatic ecosystems. Prepare yourselves to do the same... and open your eyes to the beauty of the oceans. Reef (2018) is a sequencing game where you grow a coral reef piece by piece. You play by placing Coral pieces on a 4-by-4 grid, trying to match patterns on the cards that you choose. It is a game about planning for future growth so that when your plans blossom fully you score oceans of points. While Reef isn’t a game of dramatic player conflict or cooperation, it does foster a subtle, under-the-surface tension that keeps everyone engaged throughout. Its interaction is like the gentle ebb and flow of the ocean—constant, but not overwhelmingly so. The first thing players notice about Reef is the fantastic coral pieces. The chunky and colorful pieces are the centerpiece of the game. Not only do they present a great tactile experience with the game, but they’re also very functional. While each color is uniquely shaped, they all nest on top of each other very well. We love seeing our colorful coral reefs grow.More and more I’m becoming a fan of the abstract strategy game genre and Reef is a great addition to that lineup. It does well to scratch that itch of a game that we can jump right into and start playing, and also can be as thinky as we want to make it. All cards are divided into two halves and are resolved from top to bottom when played. The top half shows what two reef pieces you’ll add to your reef board when you play it, while the bottom half shows how you can score this turn. You score by having your reef match the pattern on the card. For example, if the card shows 3 purple reef pieces in a row, you need 3 purple reef pieces in a row on your reef board. You can also score multiple times if you have different reef pieces matching the pattern. Reef is a game from Next Move Games, a game studio founded to bring out accessible games that all seemingly are named four letter words, albeit socially acceptable ones. The first of these was the phenomenally successful Azul. Can Reef prove even more popular? A game of Reef continues until the last coral of any one colour is taken from the supply. When that happens you finish off the current round and the game ends.
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