Bumuntu is a game based on the culture and folklore of the Bakongo tribes. This group descends from the Kingdom of Kongo and the people are the largest group within central Africa. This game revolves are the folklore of that people group and presents some interesting choices for the players around the table.
Bumuntu is designed by Tim Blank and publised by Wizkids Games. It playes in 30 minuets for 2-5 players.
Components:
1 Jungle Board
80 Animal Tiles
5 Tribal Leader Pawns
10 Animal Favor Markers
32 Food Chips
5 Player Shields
5 Player Discs
Setup and Gameplay:
To begin you will separate the animal tiles into 10 piles of 8 of the same kinds of animals each. As a group you will chose 8 of the 10 piles to start with. Randomize and place them on the board and place the matching favor tiles for each animal in play on the Favor board. Each player chooses a Tribal leader pawn and a player disc/shield to match. The disc marks your play space so others know which pawn is yours. Place the Food off to the side and begin play.
To begin, each player enters the jungle by starting on any edge tile. On your turn you will move one of two ways:
1-You may move one space in any direction
2-You may move according to the ability of the Animal tile you are on. If you do, collect the tile and perform a bonus action if applicable
With movement-you can move in any direction. You may not move through or into another space occupied by an opponent (unless using the crocodile). Empty spaces with no tiles are still in play. If you use an Animal ability, you must complete it to collect the tile. If you can’t move, you forfeit your turn.
If you have any food chips, you may play them before you move to love that many spaces in any direction.
Bonus actions on tiles can be either Advanced tiles or Food tiles. Advanced tiles are black background tiles, 2 for each animal. Obtaining one of these will allow you swap two adjacent Favor tiles. Food tiles will give you a food chip to put behind your player shield.
At the end of the game players move their disc to the scoring track and begin to score. Most favor will win gold, second most will win the silver amount. Favor is awarded to the player with the most tiles of an animal type with the exception of the “2per/1per” which award per tile collected for all players. There are also two tiles types that sore bonus end-game points as well based on set collection.
Impressions
What could be better:
Coloring. The tiles all look great but the monkey tile doesn’t match the color of the reference screen. The lion, monkey and giraffe are all a little too close in color as well. A little variety would help mitigate that issue.
Player pawns. I’m not sure if the shape of them is something from the culture but they are odd shaped in that they don’t stand very well on the tiles. I would love to see a shorter piece that stays on the tiles easier.
What I liked:
Tiles. These tiles are heavy and solid. They look amazing on the board all set up and really shine when people see them. Compare them in quality and weight to a good-sized domino or mahjong tile for comparison. I really like them and I think they are the showcase piece of the game.
Gameplay. The tile pickup and set collection here is solid and it ramps up in difficulty based on the number of players. I really like how balanced the game seems to be once you get going and the player interaction is strong enough to have but not overly done that it becomes more of a take-that game.
Art. I really like the graphic and design style of this game. The animals really seem to hit on a local theme for the game, bringing you more into the story they are presenting.
Overall:
Bumuntu is a solid game with a great design and table presence. If you enjoy set collection games with a good amount of player interaction then this game will be a hit at your next game night. The component quality really shines and the gameplay is smooth and quick between player’s which all makes this an easy sell to my family and friends. Make sure to check out this title today!
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