Wouter & Ymke 
Art Society immerses players in the world of high-end art collections. The objective? Become the top art connoisseur and assemble the most fashionable collection to dazzle the local art community. However, this endeavor has its challenges. Players must navigate the unpredictability of fleeting fashion trends and ensure they acquire the most valuable art pieces before they end up in the museum, altering the value of their collection.
👥 2-4 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 30-60 minutes
📝 Designer: Mitch Wallace
🎨 Artwork: Veronica Grassi, Max Kosek, Angelica Regni, Sofia Rossi, Doris Shermadhi & Giacomo Vichi
🏢 Publisher: Mighty Boards (review copy provided)
The gameplay unfolds in rounds, each composed of a structured series of events. The round starts with the designated auctioneer, recognizable by holding the gavel, showcasing paintings for the players to bid on. The number of paintings is always one more than the number of players, ensuring one painting remains at the end of each round.
💸 The bidding process is crucial. Players must select a bid card from their hands and reveal them simultaneously. The highest bidder gets the first choice, while subsequent choices follow in descending order of bids. However, what if there’s a tie? When two players bid the same amount, the tiebreaker comes down to the previous bid card played. Navigating the auction requires players to place high bids for coveted paintings while also considering future rounds.
🖼 After acquiring a painting, players face another challenge: arranging their gallery. Each painting or decorative tile must fit within the grid of the gallery wall. A few rules dictate this placement. The artwork must be oriented correctly, touch at least one other tile along a flat edge, and stay entirely within the grid. Decorative tiles, available to players when they place a new painting adjacent to one or more paintings with a matching frame, help fill up small spots on their wall and contribute to the end-game score.
⚠️ Be cautious of the faux pas! If a painting is placed next to another of the same type (like two landscapes side by side), it’s considered a misstep in the art world. These paintings won’t score prestige points during the final tally, so players must be vigilant about their placement choices.
🏛 But what happens to the paintings that aren’t chosen? The ones left unsold find their way to the museum, increasing the prestige of that type of painting. As the game progresses, the museum’s collection grows, and the perceived value of different painting types fluctuates.
🔄 The rounds continue, with the auctioneer role rotating among players. The game culminates when a player fills up their gallery, accumulates two excess paintings, or everyone exhausts their bid cards. The winner is determined by the final score, which considers factors like the prestige of the paintings, bonuses from decor tiles, positioning of top-tier artworks within the “eyeline,” and penalties for missteps like uncovered wall corners or excess paintings.
Published by Mighty Boards, Art Society is a bidding and tile placement game suitable for 2-4 players aged 10 and up. With each session lasting between 30-60 minutes, players embark on a journey into the world of high-end art collection, with the goal to outshine others in the local art community.
🖼️ From the moment you open the dual-layered game box, you’re greeted with top-notch production quality. Glossy letters adorn the box, and its insert is finished with fabric, giving the game a truly deluxe feel. Diving further into its components, the game boasts wonderfully detailed paintings, each showcasing unique art. A keen observer might notice variations of renowned paintings, each adjusted with a playful twist, adding charm to the entire experience.
📘 The rulebook of Art Society shines in its organization and clarity. With well-structured sections and an intuitive layout, it guides players effortlessly through game setup, rules, and examples. The illustrations and clear language make learning enjoyable and straightforward, ensuring players of all experience levels can quickly get into the game without confusion.
⚖️ The gameplay mechanics are deceptively straightforward. All players start with an identical set of 20 bid cards numbered 1 to 20. The challenge lies in finding the balance between high bids for those must-have paintings and strategically low bids, allowing a player to determine which painting type increases in prestige by being sent to the museum. Keeping track of the prestige value of different painting types throughout the game is crucial; for instance, owning four paintings of a type that scores only two points rather than five can make a substantial difference in your overall score.
🎨 Placing paintings on your gallery wall demands careful consideration. While it’s essential to avoid placing identical types adjacent to each other (as this nullifies their value during the endgame scoring), paintings with matching frames should be placed side by side. This allows players to earn decorative tiles that contribute to their endgame score and provides a means to fill in the small gaps on their walls. To maintain a competitive edge, it’s imperative to fill wall corners (which otherwise result in penalties) and prevent accumulating excessive paintings.
⏳ One must also be vigilant about the potential end of the game. If you notice opponents nearing completion of their walls, strategically offering larger paintings might hinder their progress. However, this tactic can backfire, as players, unable to place a chosen painting, might swap it for another of the same type from the museum’s collection, sometimes even benefiting them.
🔄 What adds to Art Society’s charm is its replayability. With varied paintings emerging in each game and the dynamic nature of players’ bids, every game feels fresh. The constant flux in painting type values ensures that no two games are identical. Furthermore, the interactive bidding process guarantees intense competition, often with players jostling over the same painting types.
💭 Art Society is more than just a game about bidding, collecting, and arranging artworks. It’s about keen observation, adapting to the fluctuating art market, and strategic thinking. For those looking for a game that offers more depth than its seemingly simple rules suggest, Art Society comes highly recommended.
📝 Disclaimer: We received a review copy of Art Society from the publisher, Mighty Boards.
