Fungi – Second Opinion

Interested in a two-player game with good replay value? Well, how about trying Fungi? For a game that I initially overlooked, I was pleased when after deciding to buy and play the game with someone I know who loves mushrooms, we had a good experience and certainly good enough to play again. I figure I’m now guaranteed to get some games in and Fungi remains ready to be deployed to answer the need for a filler.

On first looks, Fungi seems a little basic and perhaps too simple to be a game that will keep you coming back for more, yet don’t let first appearances put you off. Fungi is indeed a simple game; the rules are straightforward and well written enough that new players to games should find them easy to follow and it has variety and a randomness to ensure good replay value.

Ultimately, it is a quick game which offers a good filler option with a fair competitive side and players can always take the option of playing a series of fast games. You can set up a Fungi tournament and play knockout games, it is up to you!

The game

In Fungi, players collect cards featuring mostly either a type of mushroom or an item to help collect or cook mushrooms, players can then cook mushrooms or sell them. Selling mushrooms awards you sticks which then give you a greater range to collect mushrooms from on the forest track you explore. But the main aspect of the game is to collect mushrooms and cook them to produce tasty meals. Players then score according to the type of mushrooms, how many of them were used and whether you used additional ingredients, namely butter and cider, your score in flavour points for all you dishes determines your final score.

Strategic play

The game revolves around the choices you make. What mushrooms to collect and when to cook them. There are a limited number of mushrooms and the greater the value the fewer the cards available. You’ll need to collect pans to cook in and consider whether to accumulate more cards or cook earlier when you have the opportunity.

Each game is different based on the variety and randomness of cards in the forest trail and deck, but also the choices you make and those of your opponent. There is a push your luck element to the game and yet you can make reasonable choices to keep your score building. Overall, luck is only part of the game and not an overwhelming one. In the games I’ve played, yes I was sometimes waiting for a card to come up, but usually I had enough options and more importantly I found the key decision is when to cook a meal and score points.

Party game

Fungi can also work when played in an environment where it is more than simply a filler. It is a two-player game which on the surface makes it unlikely to be ideal for groups and more suited for couples. But games can be played in a short time and multiple players could take part and spectate if you wanted a larger competition. Alternatively, why not utilise several two player games for a group so everyone has a game to play and Fungi is one of your options?

Maybe afterwards you can try making delicious mushroom based dishes for real and have both the card-based competition followed by a culinary one.

Design

The game comes in a nice little box. Good quality cards and simple rules that work. The artwork is nice and adds to the appeal of the game. For a game that fits into a small box, can be learned, and played quickly, doesn’t take up much space and isn’t expensive, it’s a game worthy of adding to a collection and I’m glad I bought the game. It’s not a game I will play frequently, as I do prefer more medium to heavy weight games, but it’s a game I can rely on to happily fill a gap and I think that’s the point of games like Fungi.

One o f the advantages of such a small yet fun and easy game to play, Fungi is compact enough to put in a rucksack with ease and take with you on your travels. Whether on the train or hiking it easy to store and doesn’t take a huge amount of space to play, so something to consider? I sometimes go on board game retreats so we usually play the bigger games, but Fungi can neatly fit into a small space or if you just want one or two small games to take, Fungi is a great option.

Things I like: Simple, easy to learn, quick to play, nice artwork

Things I don’t like: Maybe too simple for some, two-player games may not some