Sakura is a hand management, action programming game.

Title:  Sakura

Year Published:  2018

Designer:  Reiner Knizia

Publisher:  Osprey Games

Players:  2-6

Game Time:  ~40 minutes

Set-up Time:  ~1 minute

Ages:  10+

Theme: Ancient Japan

Mechanisms:  Action Programming, Simultaneous Action Selection, Hand Management

How to win:  Gain the most Prestige at the end of the game.

Game Description 

Every year the Emperor walks through the imperial gardens to greet the spring, every year he stops beneath the Sakura trees, and every year you try to paint his picture. This will be your year. Artists from near and far will step over their rivals to be closest to the Emperor as he reaches the cherry blossoms, hoping to paint a portrait that will please him. However, should one of them accidentally bump into the Emperor, they would be sure to earn his ire!

How to Play Sakura

Sakura Round-Up 

So there are lots of games with this simultaneous card selection and simultaneous reveal mechanism. Mission: Red Planet is an example of these. The difference being you reveal when it’s time to play the card not simultaneously. 

Sakura is more random. M: RP has 10 roles so cards will activate from numbers 10-1. You know your opponents are restricted to just 10 numbers and everyone has the same 10 cards.

In Sakura your opponents have 5 random cards from 1-60, each card has a different number. The problem here is that you know someone will want to move forward, or backward and you know they’ll probably have the card to do it. But you have NO IDEA where they’ll go in turn order.

It makes the game difficult to read.

But at the same time, it adds to the randomness and chaos and makes it fun. You can see these painters scrambling over each other, pulling and pushing to get into position.

Eventually, one will bump into the Emporer and then walk back in disgrace.

Rating 

Fun and chaotic with a unique theme.

I give it 6/10

Sakura First Impressions March 2018

Stalk him to get in the best position when he visits a Sakura Tree… Just don’t get too close (It’s not at all creepy)

Simultaneous card selection,  programmed movement and deep regret at your choice of card.

Since recording the video I played it with 6 players and it’s more chaotic, but not overly random to the point where you have no control.

Jesta ThaRogue