Picoko review

Game Review - Picoko

Mechanics: trick taking, bidding

Game difficulty: easy

Game duration: 40 min

Number of players: 3-5

Best number of players: 3-5

It could be said that trick taking is one of the world's most popular mechanics, played even by people who have never heard of modern board games. "Trick taking" mechanics is in the popular computer game "Hearts", as well as in soles and duraks. But Picoko has given this mechanic a very interesting and unprecedented twist, which is also described in the description.

Subject matter

To understand the theme, I took help from the game box. Picoko is a game with three-dimensional peacocks. The game invites you to ruffle your tail feathers and read the players' minds. In reality, the game has no theme at all, but this is usual for trick taking games. The whole hook is in the mechanics, but what the game's authors can do is show extraordinary ideas to dress up the mechanics gorgeously, and 3D peacocks are a very good solution.

Components

I usually don't pay attention to the box, but the Pikoko box is a very big exception. I really like the way the graphic design looks, it's very clean and makes the box really stand out on the game shelf. The cards are basically colored numbers from 1 to 11 dressed in the shape of peacock feathers and cleverly inserted into a plastic peacock (card holder). The game has a great three-dimensional feel. The design is austere, convincing and functional. Reinis Pētersons has already shown his talent as an artist, this is one of the most convincing examples of recent times, how to create a very functional and visually austere game - nothing is superfluous and the existing components are very convincing.

Mechanics

The game consists of two parts - betting and playing cards. To make it easier to understand, I'll start with a deck of cards. Players each play cards of the same suit, and whoever has the highest card or trump wins. Here is the catch. Each player sees everyone else's cards, but not their own, so on their turn, each player plays the cards of the next player clockwise.

It is important to understand that it is not the player who has won more sticks, but the one who made the most accurate prediction about the outcome of the game. This is done through betting. Before the first suit is played, bets are placed on each player in succession as to exactly how many suits that player will take. I remind you that at that moment all cards are visible to everyone except their own. If I guessed correctly that Anna would get four sticks, I get 2 points at the end of the round, if I was wrong by one, I get 1 point.

This incomplete information creates a perfect situation where you can predict enough, but not everything, and maybe the trump 11 hidden in your peacock will be the card that will bring you down. It is also possible to control the progress of the game by playing the right cards. Never before in a simple "trick taking" game have I thought so much and calculated the optimal move. This amount of open information makes Pikoko a very tactical and serious game, where you need to dig deep, calculate and make the right moves to win.

Multiplayer

The game is like a living logic puzzle that changes every time. Its multiplayer is very high, because depending on the situation, you will have to make different decisions. The game is highly interactive and players can have a serious impact on the gameplay for everyone. Consequently, the multiplayer is also high. As I'm writing this description, I'm thinking about the game and want to play it again.

Rating

I really like Picoko. Picoko combines mechanics from two Spiel des jahres games, Hanabi and Camel Up, and improves upon them. Camel Up betting is given more control and Hanabi's unknown own cards make more sense in the outcome of the game. It is an elegant, deep and exciting game. In my opinion, the best original Brain Games game so far, aimed directly at a more experienced audience. There are a lot of meaningful decisions and choices in the game. It's dynamic, the three rounds pass quickly, but with constant player engagement. I definitely recommend everyone to try and do it, getting into it right away.

You can buy the game in Brain Games stores on the 1st floor of Rīga Plaza or K. Barona Street 55, or in the online store*: Pikoko

Board Game Geek rating: 7.0

Author: Kristaps Auzāns

Images courtesy of Brain Games and Brain Games Publishing

* Free delivery throughout Latvia.