Tokaido is one of my daughter’s favorite board games, so when FunForge released the 10th Anniversary edition I was curious to see how it had changed. In this review, I’ll discuss Tokaido for readers unfamiliar with the game, but I’ll also note the differences in this new edition for those who have played the original (note that the actual rules are unchanged).
Tokaido is a track movement and set collection game for 2-5 players. In it, players take on the role of travelers making their way along Japan’s historic road from Kyoto to Edo. A game lasts about 45 minutes.
Gameplay Overview:
The board depicts the Tokaido road, with various stops marked along the way. Each player gets a character card with a unique ability, as well as a number of coins determined by this starting card. On their turn players will move their pawn to a location and get the benefit specific to that location. There are four inns (not counting the initial starting inn) which represent way-points along the way. During their turn, a player may move as far as they like along the path, but no farther than the next inn. They can never move backward, so any skipped spaces are skipped for good. The spaces give various benefits which grant players coins, souvenirs, panoramas, and other benefits. The next player to take their turn is whoever is farthest behind on the path. This means a player may occasionally get to take multiple turns in a row.
When a player reaches an inn they must stop and wait until all other players reach the inn as well. Whoever reaches it first will draw as many meal cards as there are players, plus one. They may purchase one of these, but only if they have the money. Meals cost one to three coins and only if it’s a meal they haven’t previously collected. Each meal card is worth six points. Players arriving after the first player will get to choose from the remaining meals.
Once all players have reached the final inn and had the opportunity to purchase a meal, the game ends. In addition to points accumulated during the game, achievements are now scored, and the player with the most points wins.
Game Experience:
What we, as gamers, can sometimes forget is how stressful and threatening some of the games we play can be to new players. Tokaido, rather than intimidating players with spreadsheets, flowcharts, and number crunching, happily takes players on a journey. It’s about eating food, painting landscapes, meeting strangers on the road, or taking a dip in hot springs. Sometimes even seasoned gamers like myself want a break from the oft-welcome and delicious mental grinding demanded by heavier games.
Yet, the game still offers some tension and tough decisions. Do you jump far ahead to ensure you get to take the action you want most, or take a small step, snatching up more benefits, and hope the space you most want won’t get taken before your next turn? In that sense, there’s a slight press-your-luck element, where the luck factor is which spaces the other players will take. And if you do get blocked out of an action, there’s always something else you can do.
What’s new for the 10th-anniversary edition?
The rules are unchanged, but this newest edition has all new illustrations. While the old art was not distasteful, the makeover is welcome and attractive. The game box is also thinner now, which I appreciate as it takes up less space on the shelf, and there is no plastic insert, a welcome change for the environmentally conscious gamer. This also helps keep the price point low. The one change I was hoping for, however, was not addressed, which is the scoring track. In the old edition, I always felt the score tokens were too small and they were easily displaced on the narrow track by a slight brush or bump, and that remains unchanged. I would have also liked to see some new content in the game box, maybe a new traveler or something. The FunForge website does include an exclusive goodies pack with each Tokaido purchase. According to the site, this pack contains five alternate traveler tiles and four new encounter cards.
Final Thoughts:
If I had to describe Tokaido in one word, it would be “zen”. I think this game is best played with a relaxed mindset. Hardcore gamers who want to optimize every move and play fiercely and competitively will probably find the game’s leisurely nature boring. It’s not particularly deep and mind-blowing, but it is pleasant, making it a welcoming experience for new players, low-stress players, and families with kids.
As I mentioned in the opening, this is one of my daughter’s (10) favorite games, as well as my best friend’s, who prefers casual games. As a strategy gamer, I wouldn’t choose it for myself most of the time, but I’m happy to play if someone asks me to. The new illustrations in this edition are lovely, but I wish the publisher would have taken the opportunity to address the delicate score track, and perhaps made other small tweaks to freshen up the experience.
Final score: 3 stars – An ideal first step on the gaming journey
Hits:
• Welcoming gameplay
• Beautiful artwork
Misses:
• Maybe too simple for experienced gamers
• Would have liked to see a few more changes in the new edition
