‘Patchwork’ board game review
By Ed Appleby, Illustrator
Like a patchwork quilt made out of baby soft blankets and old worn denim, you can make a game out of any subject matter.
Patchwork is a tile-placement puzzle game for two players designed by Uwe Rosenberg and published by Mayfair Games in 2014. In the game, a series of tiles are placed out on a table, and the players take turns purchasing shapes and placing them on their 9 x 9 board. The goal of the game is to create the highest scoring quilt, fitting pieces with the most buttons and highest value in the most consistent shape.
There is a lot of strategy to this deceptively simple game. Balance has to be kept between buttons and the time value allotted to each piece, and only three pieces are up for purchase at any time. Extra bonuses can be had for being the first to fill a 7 x 7 square on your board, but the various sizes and shapes the pieces come in make achieving this incredibly hard.
The two player system gives the game an intense feeling—similar to playing chess—but the lighter subject matter and the restrictions on how many time points are available to finish the game make it fun for more casual players looking for a good time.
I think this is a great addition to anyone’s game collection. It has a fun strategy that will keep more serious players’ attention, as well as a simple rule structure to make it accessible to anyone. This can be a fun game to play with nieces, nephews, or grandparents, or as a quick time-filler if you’re early to your weekly games night.
