tokaido board game review

Well now, let me tell ya ’bout this here game, Tokaido. It ain’t like them fancy computer games the young’uns play. This here’s a board game, somethin’ you can put on your table and play with your friends and family.

I ain’t no expert or nothin’, but I played it a few times, and it’s kinda fun. The box says it’s for folks eight years old and up. You can play with two people, or even up to five. Takes ’bout 45 minutes to finish a game, give or take.

Now, the whole point of the game is you’re travelin’ on this road in Japan, the Tokaido. It’s real purdy lookin’, with all sorts of pictures and colors. You move your little fella along the road, stoppin’ at different places. Each place lets you do somethin’ different. Like, you can visit a temple, or buy some souvenirs, or meet some folks along the way. It’s kinda like takin’ a trip without leavin’ your house.

You collect these different cards when you stop. Some cards give you points, some cards have pictures of pretty landscapes, some are meals, some are trinkets from shops. You gotta try to get the best cards to get the most points at the end. It ain’t rocket science, mind you. Just gotta think a little bit ’bout what you’re doin’.

One thing I like is that it ain’t too cutthroat. You know, some games folks just try to beat each other up, makin’ you feel bad if you don’t win. This here game, well, it’s more peaceful-like. You can kinda get in other folks’ way if you want, but you ain’t directly fightin’ over the same stuff all the time. You’re all just travellin’ along the same road, doin’ your own thing mostly.

Playing the Game

So how do you play, you ask? Well, it’s easy as pie. Everybody starts at one end of the road. On your turn, you just move your fella to the next open spot on the road. That’s it! Simple, right? The trick is, the fella that’s farthest behind on the road gets to go next. So if you rush ahead, you gotta wait for everyone else to catch up.

When you stop at a spot, you do what it says. Maybe you get some money. Maybe you buy a souvenir. Maybe you get to paint a purdy picture. Each spot is different. You gotta decide which spot is best for you at that moment. Do you need money? Do you need points? Do you just want a purdy picture to remember your trip by?

Souvenirs and Meals: These give you points, but some give you more than others.
Temples: You donate money at the temples, and get points for that.
Encounters: You meet all sorts of people along the way. Some help you out, some give you points.
Hot Springs: Nice places to rest and get some points.
Panoramic Views: You can paint pictures to collect sets. More purdy pictures, more points.

It’s like you are takin’ a journey, not just playin’ a game. You ain’t just collectin’ stuff, you’re seein’ sights and meetin’ people along the way. It’s right pleasant.

Is it any good?

Well, like I said, I ain’t no expert. But I think it’s a good game. It’s easy to learn, and it’s fun to play. It ain’t too complicated, but it ain’t too simple neither. There’s enough thinkin’ involved to keep you interested, but not so much that it makes your head hurt. And it’s purdy to look at. I mean, the artwork is right fine. Makes you wanna go to Japan and travel down the real Tokaido. Though I reckon my old bones would never make it that far. Plus you don’t have to worry ’bout losin’ your way, or gettin’ your feet wet. That’s always a plus in my book.

They say it’s kinda like that Japanese chess game, Shogi, but I wouldn’t know. Never played that one. This one is easier, I betcha. And they make a game called Tokaido Duo, just for two players, if you only got one friend to play with.

If you’re lookin’ for a game that’s easy to learn, fun to play, and don’t make you wanna pull your hair out, then I reckon Tokaido is a good choice. It ain’t gonna change your life or nothin’, but it’ll sure give you somethin’ to do on a rainy afternoon. And that, my friends, is worth somethin’ in my book.