#59: O Zoo le Mio (Mark's Top 100 2022)

O Zoo le Mio

BoardGameGeek

• rank: 2,094
• rating: 6.6
• published: 2002

Print Status

• out of print

Why It's On The List

• The lovely graphics & components combine with "in the fist" auctions & tile-laying to make a zoo-building game that's relatively quick (45 minutes) and always interesting to play...

Tips & Tricks:

• Yes, there are problems with the income system (you get $ based on the number of tiles in your zoo) and the escalating point values (scoring is similar to Acquire) in the later rounds - but in such a short game, part of your job is to plan to deal with both of those issues rather than whine about them when the game is over.
• Circular pathways are an important scoring opportunity - and they can't be taken away once they're built.

Extras

• The box says ages 9+... but my six-year-old enjoyed this game (when I helped him with tile placement).
• This was originally published as ZooSim... and later was republished as Zooronga. (The newest version changes the income rules to all players receiving 3 coins per turn... which I need to try out to see if I like the change.)
• This is the first of two designs by Corné van Moorsel in this countdown.