New York Zoo Review - with Tom Vasel

[@blacksheep9950]

"It feels good as you see them breed." - Tom Vasel 2020

[@paultompkins6050]

The penguins only have one belly so they only need to be white on one side.

[@Urpichachacha]

🤭

[@Pinstar]

"Why are you clearing them out?" A bit part of zoos that have successful breeding programs is sending animals to OTHER zoos around the world, both to prevent overcrowding and to increase the worldwide population of a potentially endangered species and to broaden the gene pool among zoo populations. It's not like you're serving them up for the park burger stand.

[@banaa9463]

Ohhh! Nice. This should have been included in the game's flavor text.

[@gthdmaiden]

glad this one got a positive review. It was an impulse buy because it just looks so nice and had a hunch that it might just be right for my girlfriend and me but it has yet to hit the table.

[@danielvonankh]

Exactly the same for me, I already ordered it before any reviews were available.

[@BulletsRubber]

Yup, agree, this is a relief. I first found out about this game in an AwShux preview and liked the idea so preordered. Europe seems to be getting stock now so I'm hopeful it'll come this week. Glad Tom likes it!

[@Craigory2]

Got this one for my SO as a Christmas present. Our first playthrough was really fun and pretty smooth! Not too difficult to set up or understand. The presentation is great! The breeding component works well with the "tetris" style puzzle building. Definitely remember to plan ahead with breeding so you don't miss opportunities to acquire attraction pieces! It can make or break your game at the end!

[@boardgamefangirl]

Love polyomino games-not tired of them at all. Glad I picked this one up.

[@sofluffyunicorn]

Which one is better new york zoo or Copenhagen?

[@boardgamefangirl]

@@sofluffyunicorn I have never played Copenhagen but am interested in the dice game version of it.

[@xshadowscreamx]

@@sofluffyunicorn well New York zoo is a lot cheaper.

[@djwurm2009]

my thoughts on the getting rid of animals is that you are breeding to sell to other zoos and using that money to buy attractions

[@capstonegames]

That's what I think too!

[@ieatstheinternet]

How bout the exhibit reaches max acclaim which entices the zoo to build new attractions now that they have interest. but they have to get the animals out of the way for construction. Having visited Bronx zoo a few times I can say exhibits are often closed and animals removed due to construction (fyi still no shortage of stuff to see tho love visiting).

[@peterfarleigh6314]

Have people who have played this either: 1) Found the meeples 'fiddly' to handle? E.g. knocked loads over 2) Found that there are enough meeples included? Sure the publisher has worked it out, but good to hear folks' experiences.

[@ski6913]

When I first saw this one announced, I thought “Uwe, enough with the damn polyominoes!”. But now that I’ve played a couple times, I actually think it might by my favorite polyomino game of any designer ever. So I’ll give him a pass lol

[@pierrewhite2062]

The penguins only have white on one side Tom, just like real life.

[@trojan403]

Hahaha good one1

[@blackboardgaming5348]

I thought I was the only one who felt that way about the rulebook. Great review!

[@martimikosz6637]

Any thoughts on how it compares to The Isle of Cats?

[@sofluffyunicorn]

It's easier and shorter play than the isle of cats love them both.

[@kovray]

We really enjoy this game, the balance is so interesting.

[@benjaminspears8488]

Placing those little animals on your tiles sure looks fiddly. I could see it being problematic if you have numerous tiles with animals all close together.

[@MarioPBCSa]

I play patchwork a lot with my SO. I’ll buy this one as a next step hehe! Another amazing review from Tom!

[@martinlarouche4418]

At first glance, this looks like a more convoluted Barenpark... and Barenpark with it's expansion can be really thinky like this one. Ultimately feels like both games are interchangeable, but since Barenpark looks less fiddly (no animals to squeeze on small tiles), it still gets my vote.

[@Yaoau]

Barenpark still get my vote. This is actually fiddlier than we like... The crunchiness can be both good and bad, game time is too long though

[@Yaoau]

Yeah, with Tom here, this game is pretty darn crunchy... Don't let the cute animal fool you...

[@3kurgan]

What does crunchy means?

[@trojan403]

@@3kurgan In-depth, interlocking layers and makes you think.

[@zottleporcupine8722]

Good review - explained the game in a easy to understand, straight forward way !

[@MadhuriGuptawhousesthisanyway]

Hey Tom! Would this game show up in your top 10 polyomino games ?

[@TheAlexanderkl]

There are at least 7 (or 9 counting derivative) games with polyominos by Uwe: A Feast for Odin Patchwork (Patchwork Express/Patchwork Doodle I'm assuming count as the same. If not, 9!) Cottage Garden Indian Summer Spring Meadow New York Zoo Second Chance (The One I think you forgot, it isn't listed on Uwe's BGG page since he has an ABRIDGED list of games listed, because he's made so many games. Also possible you aren't counting this since there are no physical polyominos, but you're looking at cards with them and drawing them into a map. BGG classifies it in Polyominoes and so do I. I sat down to play it randomly at a con knowing literal nothing, I took one look at the components out of the box and immediately asked "Is this by Uwe Rosenberg?")

[@felixfryxell7529]

People complaining about "yet another polyomino" should just look for other games; there are thousands of them. Designers should ignore such jaded people and just design what they really want to; unless doing it for money or fame.

[@Rik77]

The rules are so horrible. In our first game, we had to so many questions about fiddly rules unintuitive rules that I had to go look up. However, once we had cleared those things up wow... this game is so satisfying and fun. I wasn't expecting to like this but its very very addictive. I just wish the rules were easier to remember, it feels odd to be trading animals for fairground rides! Also, the first game took us by surprise since there is no scoring. The first player to fill their board wins instantly! Its a race to the finish.

[@BobLee-df4zh]

I look at it as the exhibit being successful and earning an additional attraction, rather than trading animals for them.

[@Aaron.Rants.Reviews]

So Zooloretto but with polyominos?

[@undersci]

One correction: you can move the elephant up to 4 spaces forward, not 3.

[@gawura]

It depends on the player count.

[@dddoni1]

So if this is better than Indian Summer and Indian Summer got the seal of excellence, how come this is just approved?

[@bdelzerful]

Really loved this one.

[@Oaklestat]

I love how crunchy this game is. I can play "softer" with the kids but with the gamers you can really push the race. It's great

[@trojan403]

Is it good for kids? If so, what ages? Cheers

[@Oaklestat]

@@trojan403 absolutely, i played with 4 kids between 5-7 yrs old having good fun.

[@trojan403]

@@Oaklestat Cheers!

[@guillermoz4914]

Oooh 😮 I wonder what 2491 PlanetShip is about 😊

[@nitni0002]

Barenpark vs New York Zoo?

[@juliane1mota]

Barenpark is much better, way better. NY Zoo is boring.

[@sofluffyunicorn]

I prefer New York Zoo it's a cuter , a better box and it's different every time you play it!

[@nitni0002]

@@sofluffyunicorn @juliane1mota Ended up getting isle of cats

[@sofluffyunicorn]

@@nitni0002 good choice !!!

[@xshadowscreamx]

Cheaped out on the board though.

[@MvpAlexis]

This is what I felt unboxing the game. Paper thin board that are trash. Strong cardboard player mats would have make this game a 10/10

[@xshadowscreamx]

That does not look like a kangaroo at all, I think it's a wallaby.

[@Stomski]

What the heck is a Murcat?

[@capstonegames]

Meerkat :)

[@fnord3125]

"The theme and pieces didn't help"???

[@zottleporcupine8722]

Yeah I thought he said that too ! ?!

[@xshadowscreamx]

Uwe still trying to make a better game than barenpark.

[@victorgonzalez2927]

Looks extremely fiddly and a slight tap could wreck your zoo.

[@MeanNGreen17]

I’m just over the Tetris style games at this point.

[@dankelly]

Dang it! This polyomino fad needs to fade away. 😑

[@xshadowscreamx]

Naaaah it’s my casual group most preferred type of game. It’s not a fad, it’s an alternative choice to heavy euros and amerithrash games.