Pixies is a cute card game of cards numbered 1 to 9.
Can you get validation?
In Pixies, you move through the seasons to meet little creatures emerging from a flower or sheltering in the hollow of a tree. Choose one of the revealed cards, but be careful which ones you leave to your opponents!
Pixies Game Overview
Quick Rules Summary
Players draft a face-up card in turn order and place it in their tableau. You have a 3×3 grid, pick a 1 it goes in the top left slot, 9 goes in the bottom right.
If you pick a card for a number you already have, you choose either the new card or old card to go on the bottom, validating that number.
If they pick a card with a number they have already validation, it goes face down in any other slot with 0-1 cads in it.
New cards are laid out and players draft again.
When a player fills all 9 slots, the round ends and you score.
How do you win?
Each validated card score points equal to it’s value.
Each spiral icon on a card is worth 1 point, some offer 1 point per cards of a certain colour you have face up.
You lose one point per cross you have on cards.
Players then look for the largest area of orthogonally adjacent cards of one colour. They score 2/3/4 points per card in round 1/2/3.
Start a new round, the player with the most points after 3 rounds wins.
Main Mechanisms
Open drafting, set collection and pattern building all wrapped up into a tiny card game.
Setup & Rulebook
Setup is just shuffling the cards and the rulebook is a tiny pamphlet that does a good job explaining everything.
Components & Artwork
The cards are fine and the artwork is cute. it’s real photos of crafted…. things… bugs? pixies I assume?
Ease of Teaching
The game is easy to teach. Cards are drafted face up so a new player can be talked through their options.
If the players after new players are patient, the new player can have their turn ‘corrected’ if everyone feels that is appropriate.
Similar Games
Any small, tactical card game. Games like Sea, Salt & Paper have similar decisions and cute artwork.
Pixies Review
Positives
A lot of game inside a cute, tiny deck of cards.
Just validating the highest cards works well, but it’s not usually the optimal play. Take the best card and hope you get some validation later.
Playing over 3 rounds means that one stinker round you have or that god-like round someone else has will balance out.
Hate drafting is an option! (and a fun one)
Negatives
Hate drafting is an option! (and it’s annoying)
Summary
A very fun game in a tiny box that is definately worth your time and the small amount of money you need to part with to get it.
Jesta ThaRogue