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Kokopelli, or all I want to do is play my drum

By Amy Phelps - | Nov 23, 2021

Some board gamers are lured into games by cover art (me) and some board gamers are lured into games by the designer (also me.) Such is the case with “Kokopelli,” a new game from designer Stefan Feld with art by Markus Erdt.

In “Kokopelli,” players use a 26 card deck, with 3 each of 12 different ceremony cards to play in their player area. Each player board has space for four ceremonies that they can play cards on, as well as the two nearest spaces on their left and right of their neighbors. So the potential to mess with the other players comes into play from the start.

On a turn, each player may draw a card, start a ceremony on their personal player board (play a card) as long as there isn’t one of those cards in their play area (remember, the play area also includes other players’) or play a card from their hand into any ceremony already started.

While the ceremony is happening (the card is in play) it earns special ability for the player whose area it is in. Ceremonies are finished by playing the fourth card on it, earning the player a victory point. Once all of the players have gained all of the victory points available for each ceremony, a game end token is put out, and when all of the game end tokens are out, the game ends and the winner is whomever has collected the most victory points.

This is a somewhat light game, as the rules aren’t too difficult to get through, but then strategy comes into play with everyone. How long do you keep the ceremony going so you can gain the benefit? How soon should you shut it down to score a victory point? Should you put a card on your opponent’s ceremony – as it gets them closer to victory, but it also gets them closer to no longer being able to access their special power? That’s the balance in the game, and it’s fun to “spar” with your opponents like that.

The art is pretty simple, and with this kind of game you don’t need heavy artwork and I like the simplicity there.

The game is for 2-4 players, ages 12 and up with a playtime of 40-60 minutes. This could probably be taught to a bit younger kids – I could see me playing it with my youngest when she was 10 and a bit younger — they just might need a bit more of a starter explanation in how the hand management and where to play may work.

Feld, a German game designer, has produced many notable games, including “Trajan”, “The Castles of Burgundy” and the more recent “Bonfire.”

Now is the perfect time to get a board game for someone you love, so why not give this one a try?

“Kokopelli” is published by Queen Games and is available at game stores and online.

Amy Phelps has a lot of boardgames. Contact her at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com.