Quick
Look: Fugue
Designer: Jason Leonard, Adam Glass
Art: Thomas Robb
Publisher: Lost Age Games
Year Published: 2019
No. of Players: 1–4
Ages: 14+
Playing Time: 15–30 minutes
Find more info on BoardGameGeek.com
Review
For
most people who have heard the word before, fugue brings up thoughts of music.
The game Fugue uses the psychological meaning–a period during which a person
suffers from a loss of memory. The duration of amnesia can lead to people
wandering or starting a new life because they don’t remember their past.
most people who have heard the word before, fugue brings up thoughts of music.
The game Fugue uses the psychological meaning–a period during which a person
suffers from a loss of memory. The duration of amnesia can lead to people
wandering or starting a new life because they don’t remember their past.
In
the game Fugue, players are competing to recapture their lost inner self by
creating tile pairs of mind tiles they can score when moved to their Passion
Area. Dealing with abstract concepts of the mind created some confusion when we
were first learning the game. However, once it was understood the levels of the
mind are only names for the areas used in play made the game easier to
understand.
the game Fugue, players are competing to recapture their lost inner self by
creating tile pairs of mind tiles they can score when moved to their Passion
Area. Dealing with abstract concepts of the mind created some confusion when we
were first learning the game. However, once it was understood the levels of the
mind are only names for the areas used in play made the game easier to
understand.
 |
| Setup for a 3-player game |
The
first game of Fugue took a little longer as players worked to understand the
complete range of moves they could make. All tiles are placed face up so you
know what the other players have (we are all playing as part of a singular
mind). And each player has the ability of using sets created in front of
them to move any of the tiles in play, not just the ones in their section of
play.
first game of Fugue took a little longer as players worked to understand the
complete range of moves they could make. All tiles are placed face up so you
know what the other players have (we are all playing as part of a singular
mind). And each player has the ability of using sets created in front of
them to move any of the tiles in play, not just the ones in their section of
play.
The
next couple of games played smoothly as we began to understand some of the
intricacies of play. The rules are easy to understand. I think the concept was
making it harder for some players as they were trying to work the theme into
the gameplay. With the follow up games, the theme moved into the more cerebral
position above the mechanics. Players were enjoying the competition and the
twist of events as other players manipulated the Mind Tiles in play.
next couple of games played smoothly as we began to understand some of the
intricacies of play. The rules are easy to understand. I think the concept was
making it harder for some players as they were trying to work the theme into
the gameplay. With the follow up games, the theme moved into the more cerebral
position above the mechanics. Players were enjoying the competition and the
twist of events as other players manipulated the Mind Tiles in play.
Setup
Along
with a score card, each player has three areas of the mind in front of them, Imagination,
Vision, and Passion. And there is a shared area for all players, Depth. In the
center of everyone is the Depth. Radiating out from the center are Passion
(closest to Depth), then Vision, followed by Imagination, which is closest to
the player.
with a score card, each player has three areas of the mind in front of them, Imagination,
Vision, and Passion. And there is a shared area for all players, Depth. In the
center of everyone is the Depth. Radiating out from the center are Passion
(closest to Depth), then Vision, followed by Imagination, which is closest to
the player.
In
a shared area is a bag of Mind Tiles and the four fugue meeples. From the bag
each player draws 2 Mind Tiles and places one on each side of their Imagination
Tile. There are 5 different Mind Tiles. There are tiles for each area of the
mind, Imagination, Vision, Passion, and Depth along with Spirit Tiles.
a shared area is a bag of Mind Tiles and the four fugue meeples. From the bag
each player draws 2 Mind Tiles and places one on each side of their Imagination
Tile. There are 5 different Mind Tiles. There are tiles for each area of the
mind, Imagination, Vision, Passion, and Depth along with Spirit Tiles.
 |
| 3-player game with the first draw. |
Gameplay
The
object is to create pairs of tiles in the Passion Area of your side of the
mind. Each set scored has a different point value. The player with the highest
score at the end of the game has taken control of the mind. Unfortunately, this
doesn’t give the power to control the other players.
object is to create pairs of tiles in the Passion Area of your side of the
mind. Each set scored has a different point value. The player with the highest
score at the end of the game has taken control of the mind. Unfortunately, this
doesn’t give the power to control the other players.
There
are only a few basic rules to follow with Fugue. The resulting possibilities of
movement is where the strategy builds.
are only a few basic rules to follow with Fugue. The resulting possibilities of
movement is where the strategy builds.
On
the layout, Depth is a discard area for used and discarded Mind Tiles. Each of
the 3 other areas can only have 4 Mind Tiles, 2 on each side of the Area Tile,
just remember the mind can only hold so much.
the layout, Depth is a discard area for used and discarded Mind Tiles. Each of
the 3 other areas can only have 4 Mind Tiles, 2 on each side of the Area Tile,
just remember the mind can only hold so much.
On
your turn, you move one of your Mind Tiles from your Imagination Area to your
Vision Area. The tile can be by itself or made into a set with another tile
already in play in the Vision Area. If you already have 2 sets in your Vision
Area, you must first move one set to the Depth and then move a tile from your
Imagination Area to your Vision Area.
your turn, you move one of your Mind Tiles from your Imagination Area to your
Vision Area. The tile can be by itself or made into a set with another tile
already in play in the Vision Area. If you already have 2 sets in your Vision
Area, you must first move one set to the Depth and then move a tile from your
Imagination Area to your Vision Area.
If
you have a set in your Vision area, from prior or just created, you can choose
to activate it. Activating a set allows you to move a Mind tile from one area to
another or take a Fugue action.
you have a set in your Vision area, from prior or just created, you can choose
to activate it. Activating a set allows you to move a Mind tile from one area to
another or take a Fugue action.
Movement
is done by moving a Mind Tile from the area identified by the left-hand tile in
the set to the area identified on the right-hand tile of the set. This movement
isn’t limited to the areas in front of the player, it includes all the
tiles/areas in front of all players. You can move tiles into other player areas
and out of them. You can move Mind Tiles that are in another set. When breaking
a set, the one tile moves, the second tile is placed in the Depth. Once a set
is used, both Mind Tiles of the Set are moved to the Depth.
is done by moving a Mind Tile from the area identified by the left-hand tile in
the set to the area identified on the right-hand tile of the set. This movement
isn’t limited to the areas in front of the player, it includes all the
tiles/areas in front of all players. You can move tiles into other player areas
and out of them. You can move Mind Tiles that are in another set. When breaking
a set, the one tile moves, the second tile is placed in the Depth. Once a set
is used, both Mind Tiles of the Set are moved to the Depth.
 |
| A regular movement set |
A
set can also contain a Spirit Tile. Spirit tile sets can be used to create and
destroy Fugues. Fugues are marked by use of the different colored meeples and
they allow the player to use Spirit tiles as the Fugue(s) they have on their
score card. This allows for additional ways to make sets to move Mind Tiles.
set can also contain a Spirit Tile. Spirit tile sets can be used to create and
destroy Fugues. Fugues are marked by use of the different colored meeples and
they allow the player to use Spirit tiles as the Fugue(s) they have on their
score card. This allows for additional ways to make sets to move Mind Tiles.
After
making your moves you can discard a Mind Tile from your Imagination area by
moving it to the Depth, then draw enough tile so you are back to two in your
Imagination.
making your moves you can discard a Mind Tile from your Imagination area by
moving it to the Depth, then draw enough tile so you are back to two in your
Imagination.
Play
continues until there are no more Mind Tiles remaining to be drawn. At that
point, at least one Spirit Tile is removed from the game, usually the Depth, and
the tiles in the Depth are placed in the bag. The game ends when the bag
empties and 4 Spirit tiles have already been removed.
continues until there are no more Mind Tiles remaining to be drawn. At that
point, at least one Spirit Tile is removed from the game, usually the Depth, and
the tiles in the Depth are placed in the bag. The game ends when the bag
empties and 4 Spirit tiles have already been removed.
 |
| A spirit set |
Theme
and Mechanics
and Mechanics
I
liked the concept of the mind for a game of abstract strategy. The use of the
tiles and making sets provides many different combinations that each game we
played was different than the previous. The limitation on the number of tiles
and how they are recycled into additional rounds worked well.
liked the concept of the mind for a game of abstract strategy. The use of the
tiles and making sets provides many different combinations that each game we
played was different than the previous. The limitation on the number of tiles
and how they are recycled into additional rounds worked well.
Artwork
and Components
and Components
The
artwork is symbols used to represent the areas. This allowed the game to be
kept to a more compact size along with creating a randomized timer of play.
The components should hold up for many games.
artwork is symbols used to represent the areas. This allowed the game to be
kept to a more compact size along with creating a randomized timer of play.
The components should hold up for many games.
The
Good
Good
- Cabin
game (small and easy to transport) - Filler
game
 |
| Scoring for sets |
Final
Thoughts
Thoughts
We
enjoyed Fugue. We have enjoyed different strategy games with rules allowing
multiple options for how a play is made. These are not different levels of
exceptions, just a wide range of options with how a tile is placed and the set
it creates. Then how and when to use them, before someone else does something
to change the layout of the board.
enjoyed Fugue. We have enjoyed different strategy games with rules allowing
multiple options for how a play is made. These are not different levels of
exceptions, just a wide range of options with how a tile is placed and the set
it creates. Then how and when to use them, before someone else does something
to change the layout of the board.
The
musical fugue is the building of a theme to the climax of the piece. In many
ways the game makes a wonderful combination of the two definitions.
musical fugue is the building of a theme to the climax of the piece. In many
ways the game makes a wonderful combination of the two definitions.
Players
Who Like
Who Like
- Abstract
strategy
Check out Fugue on
Hits KICKSTARTER Oct 1, 2019.
Daniel Yocom – Reviewer
Daniel Yocom does geeky things by night because his day job won’t let him. This dates back to the 1960s through games, books, movies, and stranger things better shared in small groups. He’s written hundreds of articles about these topics for his own blog, other websites, and magazines along with stories, after extensive research. His research includes attending conventions, sharing on panels and presentations, and road-tripping with his wife. Join in the geeky fun at guildmastergaming@blogspot.com.
See Daniel’s reviews HERE.
