WBG Score: 7.5/10
Player Count: 2
You’ll like this if you like: Mindbug, Hanamikoji.
Published by: Nerdlab Games
Designed by: Christian Kudahl, Laura Kudahl
This is a free review copy. See our review policy here.
Agent Avenue comes from the genius team behind the bonkers Mind Bug. Well, 25% of the team anyway with Christian Kudahl. Coupled now with a new designer partner, Laura Kudahl. His wife! How delightful and wholesome. They have created a game that, on paper, sounds amazing. A two-player only I-cut-you-choose bluffing card game that incorporates set-collection and hand management, all wrapped up into what is essentially a race game. Who can catch who first! Intrigued? I was. Let's get it to the table and see how this plays.
How To Set Up Agent Avenue
There are two ways to play the game. There is only really one difference. The simple game uses one side of the board. The advanced version uses the other. You can tell the difference by the four black spaces on the advanced side. Pick the side you want to play with and place the two wooden characters on their spaces, green on green, blue on blue. Each player chooses which of the two characters they want to play as. Now shuffle the main deck of Agent cards and deal each player four cards. Place the rest of the deck face down on the table by the board. If you are playing the advanced version, shuffle the second deck of black-backed Black Market Agent cards and place three face up by the board and the rest of the deck face down next to this. Ignore these cards in the simple version of the game. You are now ready to play.
How To Play Agent Avenue
The player who last saw a police officer goes first. They choose two cards from the four in their hand. One card is placed face up on the table, the other is placed face down next to this. The two cards must be different. If you have four identical cards in your hand, this is the only time this rule can be broken, but that is very rare. The other player must now choose one of these two cards to take for themselves, picking it up, flipping it if it was the face-down card, and placing it face up in front of them. They either take the face-up card, knowing what it is, or the face-down card, hoping it is something better! Was it a bluff? Is it a trap? The lead player then redraws back to four cards in their hand. The other player then does the same, choosing two cards from their hand, placing one face up and one face down for the other player to choose one card from. They take the remaining card.
Each card shows a series of numbers on the left-hand side. The cards also show their card type on the top with the name, and in the main picture art on the card. If this is the first card of this type that you have taken, move your chosen character on the board by the same number shown as the first number on the top left of the card. If it is the second card of this type, move your character the same number as the second number shown here. If it is the third, fourth, or higher of this type, move your character the same number as the third number on the card. This number could be a positive or negative one. Move your character forwards or backwards accordingly.
The idea of the game is to move your character on the board so that it catches up with the other character. If you ever finish on the same space as the other character or pass them, you win the game.
Some cards have just one number shown on them. In this case, treat any subsequent cards you get of this type as the first number each time you get more. For example, for the above Mole and Sidekick, for any subsequent cards of the same type, simply move backwards three spaces or forwards four spaces respectively.
If your character ever lands on one of the four black spaces on the advanced side of the board, you can immediately take one of the three face-up Black Market cards. These either offer an immediate bonus you must act on right away, or an ongoing power that will be in effect for the rest of the game. Immediately replace any cards that are taken this way so there are always three on offer for the next player. If two players land on the Black Market spaces on the same turn, the player who was the lead player that turn chooses first. The cards offer various powers such as increasing the power of specific cards for the rest of the game, moving you forward one pace immediately, or being able to play a card in play one more time, moving the shown spaces one more time.
There are also two cards that offer a different win/lose condition. If you ever get three Codebreaker cards, you immediately win the game. Likewise, if you get three Daredevils, you lose the game the moment this happens.
There is an optional rule you can play where players can discard up to four cards in any one game and replace them with new cards from the deck. Keep these cards discarded face down in front of you so that you don't take them back accidentally later, and also keep track of how many times you have done so, as four is the maximum.
There is also a team variant where two players play against two others, or one plays against one. Each player has four cards like the normal player game, but teams with two players play one card each instead of one player playing two cards. The first player must play face up, the second must play face down. The two players can decide between them who plays first and who plays second, but you cannot talk about what cards you have in your hand. The recruiting team can then openly discuss which card to take. When discarding cards, any team of two can do this two times each. Any players on their own can still do this four times per game. There is a chance in the Team game that you can run out of cards before a victory condition is met. In this circumstance, the team closer to catching their opponent wins the game.
Is It Fun? Agent Avenue Card Game Review
This game is incredibly easy to learn, teach, and play. And initially, it will be perhaps too simple. Games will be over in no time. You will probably complete four or five games within a 20-30 minute session. They really do fly by! However, the game will then click. You will start to understand how to play cards in the way your opponents start to take the one they want. You will get a better understanding of the set-collection, how certain cards power up or down quicker than others. And you will start to manipulate the game in your favour a little more. However, so will your opponent, so the games will still be as quick! But they will get better. The bluffing will be more amusing.
The length of the game is perhaps an issue. Games do feel a little inconsequential. However, they are fun to play! So, you will need to decide if the balance is right for you. A game that can be over in under 5 minutes, that feels light, with low stakes, but is enjoyable to do. If that is what you are after, then look no further. But if you want deeper strategy, even with the Advanced game, this is probably not for you.
I enjoy the quick, light, but fun nature of this game. The multiple paths to victory are interesting. And often games will be over in a flash when players take the card you were not expecting and catch up with you way before you expected. Sometimes you only have cards that whichever one your opponent takes, they will catch you. But don't forget you can discard up to four cards a game. But even then, you may not get the ones you need. But no matter. Shuffle up and go again. As such, I would suggest this game is always best played as a best of three, or better yet, best of five.
The art and overall production of this game is lovely. I like how the card art is different on the cards that have the same powers. The board is thicker than you would imagine, and works perfectly for its limited purpose. It adds a nice bit of table presence to what is essentially a simple card game. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light card game, best played by two, that offers a quick, fun experience with minimal stakes.
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