YORKTON – Board games are so wonderfully diverse that even after playing hundreds of games through the years, there are those which, when they hit the table, surprise because they offer up a different gaming experience.
That was certainly the case recently when The Meeple Guild got Cocoons to the table.
From designers Wilfried Fort, Marie Fort, and Julien Griffon at its heart this one is a cooperative game, and admittedly that is a genre we gravitate too.
However, Cocoons was just different enough – with a hearty helping of ‘puzzle box’ feel to it.
From the publisher’s website (Bankiiiz Editions); “the guardian animals have gotten lost! Together, help them find their way back to their cocoons using a sliding puzzle that reveals clues. But beware: each of you only sees the information directly in front of you… Communication and cooperation will be essential to success.”
Essentially you have puzzle boxes of ‘nests’ – called cocoons in the game. Your job as a group is to manoeuvre the nests to identify which animal should be placed in each – there are eight. Each nest has an animal ‘logo’ but only visible from one side, so a move does not always reveal needed information.
As you move a nest an animal is revealed, and if you know where its nest is, you place that token in it.
Get all eight correct, and the start spot open and you win.
It’s simple, but not easy.
And, if you think it is, well there are mechanisms you can add to the game to up the challenge – for example reveals that have you turning the box, stretching your memory skills.
The options to twist the game a little certainly increases replay.
The components here are not fancy, but everything works so well – the boxes within a box, hiding information in a couple of ways, just comes off as innovative and fun.
Admittedly game one was sort of – ho-hum – but as we got into it, this one grew on us – a lot.
It plays quick.
It needs a good memory, but that is at least a collective thing.
This one was ultimately one which impresses a great deal, and as a family game – not too young a children though – or just a group of friends wanting something lite but challenging this one is highly recommended.
In Canada Cocoons is available through Ilo307.com
