I love thematic games. If you can put me in the middle of an adventure in the mountains, or a pirate on the seven seas or even with a shovel in hand as a world-class farmer I am ready to jump in and experience the theme along with a great game. Today we are going to look at a theme I am certain you have never played-join me as we get ready to explore the world of Marrakech!
Marrakech is a 2-4 player game from Gigamic and is designed by Dominique Ehrhard with art by Jonathan Aucomte. The game plays in approximately 20 mins.
Overview:
In Marrakech players take on the role of rug merchants in the middle of the city competing to have the most rugs visible at the end of the game along with the largest fortune. Players will place and move around trying to make themselves the best merchant in the game!
Gameplay:
In Marrakech players will each start with a stack of 15 rugs and 25 gold pieces. In the middle of the game board set the Assam figure who is the market owner. The first player will begin with the large wooden die.
On your turn, there are three steps you must take first. They are to position Assam, roll the die and move Assam. The figure can either be positioned to go straight or turn to his left or right only, never completely around backwards.
Once you move Assam, if you end on an opponent’s rugs you must pay them one coin per square of carpet in the same matching color that is in a group. Count all of that opponent’s squares of the same color that are touching on the sides, not on diagonals. Then you place a rug which can be on any of the four edges that touch the square Assam ended in. You can cover other’s rug squares but never an entire rug with the one you place. After doing this your turn ends and you pass the die to the left for the next player.
The game ends once the last player has placed their rug. To score, add up all of your personal coins in front of you along with gaining one coin per square your carpet has showing on the board. The player with the most points in coins wins!
Impressions:
Marrakech is a game that is always high on my “hey you gotta learn this one!” list. It is a fun game in area control that is unlike any other I have played in the past. It is quick and easy to learn and once you get into it players really get excited to see where those dice rolls are going to end up! I have held my breath a number of times to see where exactly that die will land and to make sure I could avoid the big rug covered areas of an opponent to try and safely get to my own area.
Let’s talk about the style-the game is just super cute and stands out. The cloth rugs might be my favorite resource to show off in a game-people usually grab them quick and love to just feel them. I love Assam as well, what a fun character that gets to march around your board and seal your fate!
If you enjoy games that have a big “gotcha!” component, this is one for you. The dice rolls can be rewarding or punishing and you just don’t know where that will hit. I have some very vocal friends who love board games, and the ones that love the heavy player interaction find this one to hit the right spot for an under 30 min game. The coins come, they go and the rugs just keep stacking up on the board. There is definitely a lot of time to spend with your fellow gamers on this one going back and forth.
This game is a great family game and one that we have been pulling out for after dinner to enjoy together. The kids pick it up quick as there aren’t a lot of hard decisions or steps to it. Our older family members enjoy it also and have commented on how pretty it is with the rugs being one of the more unique game components I have ever seen. For a game that sets up, teaches, plays and goes back in the box in around 30 mins, you can’t go wrong with this one. Make sure you check it out and see who at your table can be the best merchant in town!
Be the first to comment