Name: Famiglia
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Designer: Friedemann Friese
Players: 2
Ages: 10+
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Roll up your sleeves and get ready for some street action in Rio Grande's recent card game release, Famiglia.The pressure's on as the two most influential mafia lords compete in a face-off to recruit the best members for their gangs and emerge as the head honcho over all. Created by German board game designer Friedemann Friese (Power Grid, Factory Manager), this game offers the type of creativity and strategically balanced gameplay for which Friedemann in known. Famiglia is a great fit for those looking for a fast-paced two-player card game. It will surely not disappoint.
Among the dozens of different gang members, you must select the most promising from the four families (La Famiglia, the Accountants, the Mercenaries, and the Brutes), each known for their distinctive abilities. Will it be the Brutes, skillful in intimidation, or will you select the Accountants, who cleverly allow you to reuse a strong card's abilities multiple times? A blend of both is typically desirable, but the order in which you recruit them can make all the difference. Throughout the game, you try to collect pairs of low-level family members who can influence the more valuable family members to join your gang. A keen awareness of the other player's strategy is crucial in succeeding, because a smart player will manipulate the choices available to their opponent. Each member recruited is worth a certain number of victory points, and at the end of the game, the mafia leader who collected most victory points is the winner. It's easy to learn, but the winning strategies take planning and premeditation.
For a game consisting of only a deck of cards, the strategy of Famiglia is solid. When I play with my husband, our matches are usually within just a few points of each other, and the different available play styles are well-balanced. In addition, the art for the game is very well done, making it visually appealing to play. It has such a unique and creative style that I think many people could enjoy this game, even those who typically shy away from strategy games. A typical game only takes about 20 minutes, so we love having a quick match right before bed or during a lull in our daily activities.
The style of Famiglia, coupled with its relative simplicity to learn, make it an attractive option for a wide variety of gamers. Don't let the little box deceive you--a lot of fun is packed into that tiny container! I highly recommend Famiglia as a small but strategic two-player card game. Viva La Mafia!
