In the world of tabletop games, Calico holds a unique place with its captivating gameplay and charming aesthetics. Released in 2020, this game was designed by Kevin Russ and is produced by Flatout Games and AEG (Alderac Entertainment Group). The game beautifully blends the genres of tile placement and pattern building, with a touch of set collection thrown into the mix.
Calico invites players into a world where they are crafting quilts of colors and patterns. The gameplay revolves around selecting and placing hexagonal fabric tiles on your personal quilt board. The goal is to create color and pattern combinations that will attract cuddly cats onto your quilt, while also trying to achieve specific pattern objectives on your board.
The unique aspect of Calico lies in its dual-layered strategy. Not only are you trying to place tiles to attract cats (each favoring a certain pattern), but you also need to meet the pattern objectives on your quilt board. This offers a delightful tension between short-term gains and long-term planning that will keep you engaged throughout the game.
In Calico, the player tokens are represented by adorable cat figures. These tokens not only add an element of charm to the game but also represent the players’ progress in attracting cats to their quilt. The resources in the game are the fabric tiles. Each tile represents a patch of fabric that players use to build their quilt, and different tiles will attract different cats, adding a layer of strategic depth to the resource management aspect of the game.
If you find yourself enjoying the tile placement and pattern building aspects of Calico, there are other games you might also enjoy.
Azul: In Azul, players are tasked with decorating a palace with beautiful tiles. Similar to Calico, Azul requires you to strategically select and place tiles to maximize your points. If you enjoy the strategic depth and aesthetic charm of Calico, the vibrant tiles and engaging gameplay of Azul will be sure to captivate you.
Patchwork: As the name suggests, Patchwork is all about creating a patchwork quilt. This game shares the tile placement and pattern building aspects of Calico. You’ll need to strategically select and place oddly shaped pieces of fabric onto your quilt board. The charming theme and strategic gameplay make Patchwork a perfect game for fans of Calico.
In conclusion, Calico offers a unique blend of strategic gameplay and charming aesthetics that make it a standout in the world of tabletop games. Whether you’re a fan of tile placement, pattern building, or just love the idea of attracting adorable cats to your quilt, Calico is a game that’s sure to provide hours of enjoyment.
