PIÑATAS
PIÑATAS
A smashing trick-taker with a push your luck twist
Designer: Reiner Knizia | Publisher: Allplay 30m 2-58+ £20
Before starting this review, a quick word of warning if you’re making a real-life piñata. Whatever you do, don’t make the papier-mâché too hard. I was once at a birthday party that was ruined when a child took a particularly violent swing with a stick, it bounced off the rock-hard piñata and smashed them in the face – breaking their nose. Then again, perhaps that does fit nicely with Piñatas’ risk-taking gameplay. Go too hard and you could be (metaphorically at least) smacked in the face.
If you’re familiar with the work of the legendary game designer Reiner Knizia, you may be aware of the 2017 game, Voodoo Prince. Piñatas is actually a reworking of Voodoo Prince with minor gameplay tweaks and (at least in my opinion) some charming new artwork. In fact, the colourful illustrations by Dominique Ferland of piñatas getting horrifically smacked to bits was what initially drew me to the game. Just like the sweets (candy for our US readers) inside the papier-mâché creations, the whole game is brightly coloured and wonderfully appealing.