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Discover a new land bustling with charming creatures and flourishing with prosperity! Raccoon Tycoon, the greatly successful Kickstarter campaign by Forbidden Games, invites players to take a share in the new towns, railroads, and factories, thriving in the land of Astoria.
As one of the powerful tycoons, your job is to produce and sell commodities to tackle the supply and demand of the market and conquer the industries of Astoria. Whether you fancy yourself as a ‘fat cat’ or a ‘top dog’ there are always fortunes to be found in this ever-growing Golden Age.
What is Raccoon Tycoon?
Raccoon Tycoon is a commodity speculation game, for 2-5 players, in which players invest into various industries, as values rise and fall in the fluctuating market. The profits and goods you secure can be used to build factories and towns, alongside auctioning railroads. These various buildings grant victory points at the end of the game, however victory points can also be obtained through hidden objective cards also.
The market system of the game is simple, and the complexity is kept to a minimum, making it very easy for young players or people who are not familiar with board games to join in. However, this does not take away from the diverse possibilities and tactics. The value of each type of commodity is tracked on the large playing board, making it clear and accessible for all players.
Players each have a hand of cards which allows them to produce commodities, the cards allow players to pick up certain resources, while increasing the value of others. When a player decides to sell their commodities into the market, the price of the commodities sold fall as the market becomes flooded, making it harder for other players to gain value from their goods, until they are able to rise the prices back up when producing. And so the battle of supply and demand begins.
The money you earn from the market can then go towards buying factories which have various effects, for example boosting production, increasing storage, granting victory points…
The paper money is good quality with a glossy finish and fantastic details within the design. There is something so satisfying about using the paper money, perhaps it’s the ability to fan yourself with a stack of cash?
Money is also used in the exciting auctioning mechanic of the game. Players can bid for railroads, which grant victory points at the end of the game, and even more victory points if you collect a set. The auctioning aspect of the game is a fantastic addition, creating plenty of thrill and laughter which each player can enjoy, whilst adding suspense and extra rivalry between players.
If you would prefer a more mellow game experience, then the auctioning aspect of the game can be completely ignored! Raccoon Tycoon is a highly customisable game, with the ability to remove different elements of the game, depending on the desired experience. Why not hold on to your money instead of auctioning, as a special rule, if a player gets to $1000 they win!
However, what first entices players to Raccoon Tycoon is the charming and greatly detailed artwork which flows through the entirety of the game. The railroad cards feature the portraits of the delightful entrepreneurs of the game, whilst the town cards each have individual illustrations, truly expressing how much time and love has gone into creating this wonderful game. Not to mention the fantastically over-sized first player token!
Overall the art style of the game must be commended, why not play some vintage jazz whilst you play to fully complete the old-timey experience!
Final Thoughts on Raccoon Tycoon
Raccoon Tycoon is an ideal choice for any game night, as an inclusive experience in which all players from young gamers and newbies to matured gaming adepts can fully enjoy. The overall artistic style and gameplay fuse together to create a quaint experience bursting with exciting rivalry and cunning strategy.
Raccoon Tycoon is a highly recommendable and well-produced game, it will be exciting to see what the developers have in store for us!
