MILLE FIORI (2021)

PLAYERS	TIME	DESIGNER	PUBLISHER
2-4	60-90 mins	Reiner Knizia	Schmidt Spiele

Players are producing glass and supporting the locals in this card drafting, tile laying game.

Of course the theme is just a thin layered excuse for a fun game that feels like the more mature older brother of GANZ SCHON CLEVER.

Each turn you’ll choose a card from those in your hand and then, in player order, use it to place a ‘glass’ token onto the relevant space on the board.

Sounds simple, and that’s because it is.

There are five sections to the board, and for the most part they play the same way. Place your tile to match the card symbol and colour for the section. Then count the points. The more of yours that are grouped together, the merrier.

But there are two extra things to consider.

The sections gives bonus points if you cover each individual symbol. Doing it first will net you 20 points, and this then reduces by five points for each next player.

The other thing I really like is the opportunity to have extra turns. If you trigger this, there are market cards to one side, and you get to pick one to do something else.

And if you can trigger another free action . . . well, lets just say I once ended a game with five actions in one turn.

Overall, the game looks gorgeous, with some beautiful art on the board and cards, and the ‘glass’ tokens adding to the colourful design.

The theme is superfluous , and MILLE FIORI could easily be an unthemed abstract game and still be fun.

But it’s that chaining, and the escalation I love. Early turns inch by a point or two at a time. But later on your score marker is clearing one length of the score track in a single turn.

MILLE FIORI is a beautiful game that is simple to teach, with quick turns, and gives players that boost when they can nail a big turn. An immediate favourite.