Game Review: Bunny Kingdom

You are a Rabbit Lord and your world is ruled by the Bunny King. He wants you and the other Lords of the realm to go out an explore the world to all of its corners, construct Cities, farm Resources, build Fiefs and gain all of the Golden Carrots. Which among you will be crowned “Big Ears” by the Bunny Kingdom and be the best in this Kingdom?

Bunny Kingdom is a 2-4 player game from Iello Games, designed by Richard Garfield and Illustrated by Paul Mafayon. The game plays in 45 minuets. The goal of the game is to score the most Golden Carrot points. The gameplay is drafting with placement that takes place over 4 rounds, scoring is done after each round.

Components include:

-1 New World Board
-144 Rabbits (36 of 4 different colors)
-39 City figurines
-24 Building tokens
-182 Exploration cards
-4 player aid cards

Gameplay/Setup:

The New World board is a 10×10 board where each grid is a Territory with a letter and number coordinate. Each one is a specific terrain type and has a unique Territory card in the deck. The types and what they produce:
-Sea (fish)
-Forest (wood)
-Field (carrots)
-Plains (empty)
-Mountains (empty)
-Cities (strength 1 towers)

The City figures range from Strength 1-3. There are also three types of tokens that can be added to territory spaces as well.

Each round, a player will pick two cards and place them face down. Once everyone has picked, players simultaneously reveal and play their cards. The Exploration cards are as follows:

1.Territory cards: They allow you to take control of a space (letter/number) and place a bunny in that location.

2.Building cards: These allow you to place a building either in token or city building form on a territory you control. The different types are as follows=
-Farms: They allow you take control of a territory that produces a certain type of resource.
-Cities: These let you construct the corresponding City.
-Camps: You can control any empty territory on the board not claimed.

3. Parchment cards: These cards when picked are kept secret through the end of the game. Each one will give you some type of bonus through Golden Carrots (victory points) at end-game.

The board is set up with 1 strength Cities on all of the City spaces to start and each player starts with their hand of cards and rabbits.

As stated above, you draft and play cards. The Buildings do not need to be constructed right away and can be left to construct at the end of the round into the second phase, the Construction Phase.

In the Construction phase, players will place Buildings but are not required to do so. Some Buildings have location requirements you have to follow, and no territories may have more than one building.

As you control territories, each one and all connected spaces become Fiefs that you control.

Cities will increase the strength of your Fiefs.
Farms with resources will increase the wealth of your Fiefs.
Sky Towers will connect two of your Fiefs together.

Finally, the third phase in the round is the Harvest Phase. During this phase players will harvest Golden Carrots from all of their Fiefs. To harvest a Fief, you calculate as follows:

Strength x Wealth = # of Golden Carrots

Strength is determined for a Fief by adding all of the Towers in the Cities. Each City has a spire that is equal to the tower number. The Wealth is determined by adding up all of the different Resources that it produces.

Once everyone has harvested their Fiefs, the round is over. This continues for a total of four rounds. At the end of the game, after the 4th Harvest phase any additional Golden Carrots earned from Parchments are added to the players total scores. Highest total number of Golden Carrots wins!

Impressions:

What could be better:

Chaos. This game plays well but it is not a game to play while distractions are around. There is a lot going on-almost too much at times. You really need to concentrate on your locations, your Fiefs and your resources. If you are easily distracted, make sure to play this with a group or location that won’t make it hard to pay attention!

Variety. I would love to see another board on the other side of this one, something to really mix up all the locations. I hear there is an expansion in the works so I am hoping to see a new board to spice it up a bit.

What we liked:

Gameplay. The draft aspect along with area control/set collection was such a fun combo. It is not like any other game I have played and one that most seem to enjoy after they get the hang of it in a round or two. We have played it with 2, 3 and 4 players and I think 3 is the real sweet spot.

Components. The art, the Cities and the Bunny mini-minis are all so cute and well made. I really like the table presence this game has-it is one that definitely catches your eye when you walk by to see it on display.

Depth. This game isn’t as easy to figure out as it seems like it should be. There are some solid strategies in how to best collect your Golden Carrots and come out on top. It is one I think about even after we have played which is a really good sign of a game for me.

Overall, our family and friends really liked this game. The drafting and gameplay really set it apart from anything I have played before. If you think you would enjoy a fast-paced strategy game that smashes together drafting and set collection then Bunny Kingdom is a great choice for your table. The gameplay is one I personally will continue to go back to again and again looking for the different angles it presents to the players. Pick this one up for your next game night and see who can become the top Bunny Lord and be crowned “Big Ears” by the King!