Coin Age (Adam P. McIver, 2013)

Review

Print and play

The game board and rules are nicely printable from here. After printing, everything can be easily folded, and it's advisable to laminate the board to really fit in our wallets. All you'll need then is 10 coins per player: one of the largest, two of the second largest, three of the next, and four of the smallest. And then the game can begin.

2 players

The game is for two players, a area control duel that lasts 10-15 minutes on just a few square centimeters. It's a highly confrontational game, no room for hurt feelings, as we're constantly stepping on each other's toes, taking territories and points from each other.

Mechanism

This is an abstract strategy game that builds on the push-your-luck mechanic, essentially a very cool version of heads or tails. Luck plays a significant role, as the number and quality of your actions depend on what you roll with the coins, but it's precisely through action selection and scoring that elements requiring thought are introduced into the game. You must make the most out of your turn, and this isn't always simple.

Theme

Although we have a map, there are no themes in the classic sense within the game. I interpret it as the game reflecting on its own nature as a game, so its theme is that it's a microgame. Its existence proves that you can play anywhere and with anything; you just need to come up with the frameworks, and in this, Adam P. McIver shows incredible creativity.

Overall Impression

It has made its way into my wallet. I am convinced that if every second wallet contained this or a similar microgame, the world would be a better place. Being able to play anywhere and with anything is probably the most important thing we can do, and Coin Age is an excellent choice for that.