Game: Zooloretto
By: Rio Grande Games
Players: 2-5
Recommended Ages: 8 and up
Estimated Game Play: 45 minutes
Game Description:
Each player uses small, large, wild and exotic animals and their young to try and attract as many visitors as possible to their zoo. But be careful – the zoo must be carefully planned. Before you know it, you have too many animals and no more room for them. That brings minus points! Luckily, your zoo can expand. A zoo of a family game in which less is sometimes more …
Game Play:
Players collect animals and assign them to various enclosures in their zoo. The challenge is to collect only the animals desired. Once that is done they will need to be properly positioned to attract spectators. The trick is getting the species of animal you desire off the deliver truck. You may get a truckload of animals you do not want. Players receive a board of their zoo which has three separate enclosures and a barn. You may purchase an additional enclosure during the game. Animals are not to be left in the barn for too long or you loose points. You will basically build your zoo by collecting matching pairs of animals.
On each turn a player may reveal a tile and put it on a truck, take possession of a truck, or spend coins for multiple purposes. If the player takes a truck, he must place any animal on the truck into his zoo immediately. If the player gets and elephant, he must place it in an enclosure but no other animal other than an animal of the same species can be in one enclosure. If he has full enclosures and an animal that will not fit into the enclosures then the animal goes into the barn.
This may cause him to lose points.
Coins can be used to move an animal, discard an animal or purchase an animal from another a player. A play may also purchase additional enclosures.
The game ends at the end of the round and the person with the most points wins.
What we thought:
The animal theme is very appealing. I found the age recommendation spot on. The game is a bit hard to get a hang of but once you get into the game it is enjoyable. The strategy is complex enough to appeal to older kids or adults yet young kids (8-10) will be able to grasp it and will enjoy the game. It is a great game for an intense yet fun family game night.