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Quilters, Gift Wrappers, Ghouls, and now Lovers with Patchwork: Valentine's Day Edition!
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
With my well-documented love of Patchwork, I couldn’t do better than Elizabeth Barrett Browning when thinking of the song that is in my heart whenever I play. But now, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Lookout Spiele have spoilt us all with our very own romance-themed edition!
My husband knows the way to my own heart is through some heady board gaming action. And if you are like us, you now no longer have to “say it with flowers”. No, this year, you can say it with the strategic smashing of the prettiest kind! Welcome, lovers, to Patchwork: Valentine’s Day Edition!
Pretty Patches
If you have played any of the Patchwork games, the polyomino placing mechanics will be familiar to you and your best beau. And this loved up version is no different. Valentine is the same game, but it’s a chocolate boxed wrapping of Uwe Rosenberg’s classic two-player puzzle.
Smoochy Set Up
For those of you who haven’t been quilting it up with Uwe Rosenberg in the past, I’ll set out a speed-dating worthy super quick summary of the rules. Simple to set up and easy to learn, cupid’s arrow is sharp in this one, however!
And in this tasty Patchwork: Valentine’s Day Edition each player starts by taking an empty 9 x 9 red or silver chocolate box board, as well as 5 golden nougats The single-sided time track is placed in the centre with the players’ wooden heart meeples on the starting square. All the chocolate covered patches are then placed in a circle around it.
5 additional single sweet petit four patches lie in random spots on the time track. These are won by the first player to reach them as the game progresses. Cupid joins as the neutral token and he goes immediately to the right of the small 2 nougats 1 space patch. Once that is done, it’s time to get to know one another!
Going Steady!
On your go, you can either trade your golden nougats for one of the three tiles to the right of Cupid or you can skip. If you can afford then some chocolates, you’ll pay the price printed on that tile, and move your heart the indicated number of spaces along the time track (indicated by an egg timer icon). You can place your chocolate covered tile anywhere you like inside your own chocolate box board. Just remember; no overlapping or overhanging, cheeky!
If you aren’t in the mood for a sugar hit, you’ll pass over your opponent’s heart, and earn a golden nougat for every square on the track you skip. If you cross a nougat printed on the track at any time (whether due to buying or skipping), you’ll also earn income. One nougat for each of those printed on the sweet treats already filling your chocolate box.
Cupid replaces the tile you just picked to show the trio of delicious treats available next. Your turn continues until your heart is ahead of your opponent on the time track. The game ends once you both reach the gooey centre. Note that if you fill a complete 7x7 square inside your chocolate box at any time, you’ll automatically receive the special bonus tile that is worth 7 points at the end of the game! Oh and if you have any empty spots in your chocolate box at game end, they’ll each knock you a point. So no dipping in for a sly nibble – you want your chocolate box brimming to the top with creams, crunchies, and even runny centres!
Are You A Lover Or A Hater?
Patchwork Valentine’s Day Edition is a sweet looking but sharp-tasting game that plays in around 30 minutes. And during that brief encounter, your sugar-filled strategic skills must be on display. You want the high profile choccies every time, of course – no toffee pennies or caramel sticks for you. But you’ll often spend more in golden nougats and time to get them.
So, that might mean skipping out on a sweetie to earn nougats makes for a better option. As well as upping your purchasing power, it could also stop your fancy fellow from having their pick of the truffles and pralines further round the choccie circle.
But not always. Other turns, you’ll just need to pad out your box with any old chocolate you can – nobody wants negative points after all! Or you’ll just want to snaffle delicious prime cocoa dusted lovelies at any cost. After all, if you don’t, your date will! Whether a lover or a hater, Patchwork Valentine’s Day Edition is a super two-player game that will give your heart cause to skip a beat or two!
Fancy Yours Much!
Underneath the cutesy, chocolate-covered exterior, the tense, tight, tactical gameplay of the original Patchwork remains.
Somewhat disappointingly, they have replaced the reverse side of the time track board with a single red rose. In other versions (see Patchwork Halloween), there is another side for variable play. Ah well, there had to be a coffee cream in there somewhere I guess. I also find the artwork in this version mouth-wateringly delicious to look at. However, it can be a little hard to navigate at speed. Despite the cost in nougats and time being printed on pretty pink ribbons, they can get lost amidst the prettiness of the polyominoes. I am, however, enjoying that extra sweet moment when, by sheer fluke, the ribbons all connect up. It’s like a bonus meta Patchwork puzzle!
Overall, for a game that is 100% “perfect information” (i.e. nothing hidden from sight), Patchwork Valentine’s Day Edition cleverly manages to keep you guessing as to what your lover has in store. On a table set for two, this game will show your lover’s true intentions. And with Valentine’s Day around the corner, what better time to get up close and personal!
Editors note: This post was originally published on February 9th, 2022. Updated on January 25th, 2023 to improve the information available.
