If you want a game that’s deeply immersive and heavy on conveying its core theme, check out Famous: Stage 1 from Canadian designer Jared Lutes.
Be forewarned, though — this isn’t a light game you pull out for a quick session. Famous plays one to four players and has a suggested playtime of one to three hours, though your first few games with four players will likely push that upper limit pretty hard.
There’s a lot — and we mean a lot — going on here.
Players take on the roles of musicians chasing their dream of stardom. But how do you reach those bright lights of success? You’ve got to live the life. In Famous, Lutes has tried to make the board game experience mimic real life in as many ways as possible.
Players recruit band members, write songs, promote their music, hit the stage, and of course, deal with the ever-present constraint of time.
What does that all mean? Well, more than can be covered in a single written review, honestly. But suffice it to say, players are constantly making tough choices about where to spend their energy — just like real musicians do. You can’t be writing a new hit song if you’re out doing promotion work, for example. So, which choice will take you closer to the big stage?
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Crank up the amp and take your best shot at stardom
Be forewarned, though — this isn’t a light game you pull out for a quick session. Famous plays one to four players and has a suggested playtime of one to three hours, though your first few games with four players will likely push that upper limit pretty hard.
There’s a lot — and we mean a lot — going on here.
Players take on the roles of musicians chasing their dream of stardom. But how do you reach those bright lights of success? You’ve got to live the life. In Famous, Lutes has tried to make the board game experience mimic real life in as many ways as possible.
Players recruit band members, write songs, promote their music, hit the stage, and of course, deal with the ever-present constraint of time.
What does that all mean? Well, more than can be covered in a single written review, honestly. But suffice it to say, players are constantly making tough choices about where to spend their energy — just like real musicians do. You can’t be writing a new hit song if you’re out doing promotion work, for example. So, which choice will take you closer to the big stage?
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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