Description
Patchwork
Patchwork is an abstract strategy game where two players compete to build the most aesthetic and high-scoring patchwork quilt on a 9×9 game board. The game combines elements of puzzle-solving, tile placement, and resource management, with players utilizing buttons as currency to purchase patches to add to their quilts.
Setup: Each player receives a quilt board, five buttons (as currency), and a time token. The central time board is placed in the middle of the table. The players' time tokens are placed on the starting space of the time board. The patches are laid out in a circle around the time board, the smallest patch (1x2 size) is located, and the neutral token is placed between this patch and the next patch in clockwise order.
Turns: Unlike many games, turn-taking in Patchwork does not necessarily alternate. The player whose time token is furthest behind on the time board goes next. This can result in a player taking multiple turns in a row.
Actions: On a turn, a player may either buy a patch or pass. To buy a patch, a player pays the cost in buttons shown on the patch, moves the neutral token to the patch's location, adds the patch to their quilt board, and advances their time token to a number of spaces equal to the time shown on the patch. The patch can be placed anywhere on the quilt board as long as it doesn't overlap other patches. If a player chooses to pass instead of buying a patch, they move their time token to the space immediately in front of their opponent's time token and take one button for each space they moved.
Button Income: Certain patches feature 0-3 buttons. When a player moves their time token past a button on the time track, they receive "button income": they sum the number of buttons depicted on their quilt board and take that many buttons from the bank.
Special Patches: The time track depicts five 1x1 patches. During setup, five actual 1x1 patches are placed on these spaces. The player who first passes a patch on the time track can claim it and immediately add it to their quilt board[1].
7x7 Bonus: The first player to completely fill in a 7x7 square on their quilt board receives a bonus tile worth seven extra points at the end of the game.
End of Game: When a player's action moves their time token to the central square of the time board, they take one final button income. The game ends after both players reach this central square. Each player then scores one point per button in their possession and loses two points for each empty square on their quilt board. The player with the most points wins.
Though the theme of quilting may not initially seem exciting, Patchwork's strategic depth and quick playtime (15-30 minutes) make it an engaging game for a wide range of players.
2-4 Players
Recommended for ages 8 plus
Not suitable for children under three years old due to small parts, keep out of their reach.
