1-5 Players
Designer: Alexz Martinez
Publisher: RAWR! Games
Follow Mich, an adventurous cat into the dangerous downgeon, where they will face enemies, find treasure and seek the precious golden fish. But will this adventure make you purr with excitement or does it spell CATastrophe?
Gameplay
Turns are shared are divided in two phases. First, during exploration, two cards are revealed. Players then draw both anywhere that is connected to existing paths already drawn. Any shapes you form during this phase turn into resources, depending on the size and shape. Additionally, if you complete rows you get additional bonuses. There is also a map specific card that have its own specific effect and triggers a re-shuffle.
Then, on the action phase, players spend their resources for various actions. Torches and maps allow you to draw additional paths, swords lets you fight enemies, gems and chests give you even more resources.
Game continues until players can’t draw more paths or some map specific conditions, like 4 dragon attacks.
Solo Gameplay
Each map has solo specific rules on how the dungeon card acts and some additional end game triggers, as well as a threshold of golden fish for a victory. On the first one you take damage you get fish on when the dragon attacks, the second the thief keeps stealing resources and yo have to prevent him, and on the third you have to prevent too many monsters from rising.
Components
The art has an anime-ish style, and it’s vibrant and exciting. The game is mostly based on iconography, but the icons are easy to understand.
Rules are mostly fine, but there are a few areas that could have been clearer. Things are left implied, but nothing too game breaking.
The only possible issue is production, and your mileage may vary on this, is that you do have to print a lot of cards. As someone that lacks the proper techniques, it was a bit of work. Other than that, you just need a sheet for each player.
Conclusion
Out of the gate, there is something that bothered me about this game: the dungeon specific cards. They advance the game somehow to an end, and they can be quite swingy. Luckily, when you draw them, you reshuffle whatever was drawn and put on the bottom, so it gives you time before you face them again. But, depending on how the draw went, the game can be a bit too quick, specially on the solo version.
When the game is allowed to fire at all cylinders, it can be thrilling. The map fills quickly, and the game is fairly generous with resources. That can create action turns where you can Chain many effects and have super exciting moments. “I fill this area, get a sword, kill that enemy, get a map, fill more areas…”. If the variation does not bother you, Mich is absolutely a game to try. Each map does feel. unique, and equipment cards can have pretty changing effects, so there is replay value. Plus, even on the worst of luck, it’s a quick enough game to just pick up and play again.
Score: 8/10
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