I’ve had the pleasure of test playing Tenby, the debut board game by Benjie Talbott from Cosy Cub Games, and I'm thrilled to share my thoughts on this beautiful game. I’ve struggled to share my review because I feel a bit biased, and even though board game reviews are subjective, I love this game. I am grateful for having the opportunity to see the prototype, playtest it, and now I am eagerly anticipating the final product. Watching this game come to life has been an incredible experience. I think this is a solid game that is not only beautiful but also a work of art. Plus, Benjie has a playlist to go along with it, which is just the cherry on top. Wait, no, I need to get fish and chips, and then it’d be the perfect evening. I also had the privilege of interviewing Benjie—click here to be directed to it.
As someone who appreciates language-independent games that are easy to teach yet rich in strategy, Tenby checks all the boxes. The game’s beautiful and has clear iconography, along with color-blind friendly components. The game is inspired by the charming Welsh seaside town of Tenby, the artwork transports players to a picturesque setting that adds to the game's appeal. I have never been to Wales, but if I ever get the chance to visit. Tenby, I’m coming to you!
Components
Detailed rulebook
Beautifully Designed Cards: Terrace, Pier, and Landmark cards, each with stunning artwork illustrated by Benjie
Resident Cards: Become a local by using these cards that provide you with unique goals that add depth and replayability. I leave this out if I am playing with family that doesn’t speak English. I also suggest leaving this out for first games, playing with people new to the hobby or children
Life Ring Tokens: Used strategically to perform additional actions
Player Counters and Aid Cards: Each player gets their own color set
Round Tracker and Day/Night Cards to determine turns throughout the game
Solo Variant Components: Anchor and Compass cards, along with a Solo Player Aid Card
Please note that I had the chance to play pre-production prototypes, so some of the components may changeSetup
In Tenby players aim to build the most impressive town by strategically placing Terraces, Piers, and Landmark cards and creating beautiful streets. First sort and shuffle cards. Then set up the market by setting up terrace, pier, and landmark cards. Then set up the double sided pier and terrace cards. Above the pier and terrace cards, set up the resident cards. Place life rings tokens to the side and provide each player with:
A start card, player aid and counter of the color of their choice
Whoever was the last person to walk alongside the beach goes first. Then mark the cube on the first number to start the game.
Each player draws a resident card and keeps this secret until the end of the game.
Lastly, set the night and day tracker. Cards are set up based on numbers of players
Gameplay Overview
Tenby consists of 10 rounds, each split into three phases: Night, Day, and Clean Up. The goal is to construct streets of Town Cards and meet Resident Card conditions to earn points.
Night Phase
Players choose Day Cards in the order of their Night Card positions. Each player moves their counter to an available Day Card.
Day Phase
Players take turns in the order of their Day Cards, performing actions such as gaining Terrace, Pier, or Landmark Cards, Resident Cards, or Life Ring Tokens.
Clean Up Phase
Place a Life Ring Token on the remaining Day Card.
Discard unused Town Cards and replenish the market.
Move the Round Tracker Cube up one space, and prepare for the next round
What I particularly enjoy about this game is the timing of card replenishment. As you take your turn and gain cards, they aren't replenished until the end of the turn. This has you thinking strategy and decision making the whole time. The availability of Life Ring Tokens for extra actions becomes increasingly valuable as the rounds progress.
All Town Cards (piers, roads, and landmarks) are always visible. Once chosen, players must play them immediately. The cards must be placed legally by matching bottom edges of the cards. Additionally, players can only play one landmark card per street.
At the end of the ninth round, players, in turn order, draw three cards blindly and place one of these cards in their streets. Then, the final round begins.
Life Rings
Life Ring Tokens are a valuable resource that I took for granted the first few times we played the game. Do not be fooled! They can give you loads of strategic advantages during the game. You can earn life rings during specific actions. Life rings allow you to take extra actions like gaining extra cards or moving cards from one street to another. You are able to use these tokens to optimize your strategy. As the turns go on a feature you wanted on one street may be more prominent on a different street, so moving it may be the victory determining factor.
Scoring
Each town card has a scoring range. Some cards give you a set number of points, while others provide you with a range of adjacent cards, the next two cards in each direction, or every card in the street. Each card will either have a set number of points or a feature along with a number of points that the card will score per feature available in the range the card requires.
After the last player takes their 10th turn, the game ends! Points are tallied based on the placement and features of Town Cards and the fulfillment of Resident Cards. Streets are assessed for their completion status and the presence of specific features like chimneys, benches, and clouds. The player with the most points wins. In case of a tie, the player with the most streets wins, and in the unlikely event of another tie, the person with the most resident cards wins. When we play without resident cards, we count distinct features to settle ties.
Key Features
Strategic Card Placement: Players strategically construct streets of Terrace, Pier, and Landmark cards to earn points
Resident Card Objectives: Unique goals provided by Resident Cards add depth and replayability to each game
Immersive Artwork: Stunning illustrations that make you want to take the next plane to the beautiful Welsh seaside town of Tenby
Color-Blind Friendly Components: Clear iconography and components ensure accessibility for all players
Life Ring Tokens: Valuable resource for performing extra actions and optimizing strategy--trust me! You want some of these as early as you can get them
Final Thoughts
Tenby is a beautifully coastal adventure waiting to unfold on your tabletop. We play tested this a lot during a snowy cold winter, so from the moment I laid eyes on the prototype, I wanted warmth, beach, and to replay this game. The game offers strategic depth through card placement and action management. The balance between immediate gains and long-term planning, coupled with the picturesque representation in each card, makes for an engaging and delightful experience. And for those curious about the real Tenby, it’s a charming destination in the United Kingdom that’s now on my travel list, thanks to this wonderful game!
Happy gaming!
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