1-100 Players
Designer: Phil Walker-Harding
Artist: Meredith Walker-Harding
Publisher: Joey Games, Postmark Games
Live on Kickstarter on August 13th
In more nature related partnership of Joey and Postmark, we go and try to create forests and rehome our adorable furry friends. But is this a game of good koala-ty?
Disclaimer
The team at Postmark Games very graceously provided me with this first sheet as a preview copy for me to play and analyze. There was no additional compensation.
All components and rules presented here are in prototype form and subject to change as the project develops.
How to Play
Setup is simple, each player needs a sheet, and one single d6 that will be shared by everyone.
The game goes for 2 rounds of 15 turns each. On each turn, a d6 is rolled, and player draw the relative shape either in circling uncircled trees or circling the koalas in already circled trees. You cannot mix both, and the shape needs to be used in full.
After drawing the shape, if the player completes a row or column of koalas (not just trees) they get the bonus, that can be access to new areas, circling hospitals for bonus points, volunteers to manipulate the die or additional circles. The player can also earn merit badges if they complete certain criteria.
At the end of each round, player score for areas full of trees, full of koalas and hospitals. Most on both rounds score plus the merit badges wins.
Rules and Components
The rules have that very specific Postmark look and style, being mostly white, text with a few illustrations as examples. It does mostly require you to have the sheet besides you, but they are clear.
The sheet is big and bright, and icons are clear on what they do. My only problem is that since you have to double circle everything, the circles are a bit small, leading to a messy sheet.
Score: 7.5/10
Gameplay
I’ll say right away that my analysis is for this first map and rules. I’ll explain why this distinction later on.
Koala Rescue Club is all about fitting the shapes. There is plenty of good decisions of where, when to go for trees or Koalas, and what to invest in to score in each round. But it is undoubtedly a family weight game, very light and fast. It’s not a bad point in any case, as far as simple roll and writes this one is immensely fun and satisfying.
But here’s the thing. This is a Postmark Games, and I know that each additional map. will have its own changes and quirks to make use of this very simple and clean base. I don’t think it will anything but a family weight game, but there will probably be some interesting twists.
Score: 7.5/10
Theme and Art
I mentioned how the gameplay is very family oriented, and I feel the same for the art. It’s cartoony, colorful and adorable.
That is the second game Postmark and Joey make to not only feature a particular animal (we had Scribbly Gum about moths before), but also to actively bring information and funds to the conservation of said animal, and I fully appreciate that.
Score: 7.5/10
Conclusion
There is just something satisfying about fitting shapes in different manners, and this game features that front and center. It’s a very cute and accessible game that still feels satisfying to more gamer-y brains.
As it is, the replay value is limited, as each game will be mostly the same. But, as I mentioned, this is the first map. Replay and variety will probably come later.
But even just as it is, it’s a game that is fun, inexpensive and helps a cause. What’s not to like about that?
Rules and Components: 7.5 /10
Gameplay: 7.5/10
Theme and Art: 7.5/10
Score: 7.5/10
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