Mille Fiori
Designer⚙️: Reiner Knizia
Artist🎨: Stephan Lorenz
[ @devirgames @schmidt_spiele ] 2-4 players
Drafting cards is among some of my favorite mechanics in a board game. Many may know this style of game from the likes of Sushi Go or even the intensity of Blood Rage. Here however, you are doing so as a glass blower.
It has the typical way of drafting where you'll pick a card then pass your hand to the next player, but your choices are based on where you are wanting to place glass on the board.
Each section of the board scores in different ways from groupings, to building structures, to going out on the sea. Thing is, each card corresponds to one space and each area of the board has special diamond spaces that, when achieved, will give you potentially a string of bonus actions/turns!
These bonus actions throw the game into high gear once more glass is placed, and more options are out. At the end of each round your last card will go into a group display of cards that can be used for these actions. Racing for these is inevitable in some games as you try to string together multiple turns in a row by using these to score big and take the lead.
Do you like points? Well this is THE game for you, because you get a ton of them. You'll be constantly getting that gratification of seeing your score marker speed around the board.
It's a gorgeous production with plenty of Knizia subtleties riddled about for you to explore. Pausing to see the board filled with the acrylic transparent tiles at the end is a delight. It's a game that teaches easily and plays quickly, often coming back for another round once it's finished! I look forward to what the new expansion will add, but for now Mille Fiori is a lovely time.
