Excellent review ! I knew Mille Fiore was going to be a hit the moment I saw the board and mechanics design and then having Knizia behind it made me jump on it quick - got the Euro edition and printed the English rules. This game is brilliant for a midweight gaming club. Once you learn the rules the first time you’re golden ! Bringing this back to the table again and again is going to be EASY, and people will want to play again to try a different strategy. Knizia has a knack for hitting that dopamine receptor in a gamers brain with simple mechanics and crunchy decision making, but it’s never quite the analysis paralysis that it seemingly could be. What I love and must have in a game is HOW IT ENDS - the end game trigger in Mille Fiore is classic Knizia, and it adds that extra little lightweight tension that makes a game worth playing again. This game when I get it is never leaving my collection !!!
Nice review! I got this game a couple weeks ago (from Philibertnet); it was an instant buy for me, since it was Knizia and since Witchstone has been a hit with my gaming group. I've played it twice this week, and I found it to be an accessible and satisfying 1-hour filler. Mille Fiori seems to be Knizia's take on Ganz Schon Clever (and to me, it's very clear that he was thinking about Ganz Schon Clever). Still, there's drafting, though players are interacting together on a shared board (rather than marking on separate sheets), and the extra card actions act like the triggered bonuses from GSC. You can see some parallels between the way an area of the board scores and the way a colored area in GSC scores; also, notice that the "Trade" and "Harbor" areas are intertwined (somewhat resembling the way that the blue and white dice are intertwined in GSC) (also, the colors of the Trade and Harbor areas look a bit like blue + white). I think general audiences will enjoy this one, too.
I’ve been wanting this game ever since I saw the review. I got to check it out at Gen Con and really enjoyed it. I finally have my copy on pre-order. It seems like a nice big step up from a game that my parents always like to play with me which is Sequence.
I've heard the 2-player game was lackluster, and I'm glad you covered that in your review. I'm a fan of Knizia games, but as good as this one looks, I'll likely pass on it because of that.
I feel like the "tactical" variant in the rules is preferable with 4 players where you can see what each player is going to play instead of the blind bid base rule. It adds a little bit of time but avoids the frustration your plan being ruined.
Yeah, when I read the rules I thought it's a roll and write but you don't have your own pad, and instead of arbitrary die rolls (which I'm not against, but wouldn't work in this game) you get a bit more tactical play from the cards
Man, Reiner Knizia sure knows to make games where 'to help myself I set my opponent up to get more points'! Gives you the 'Lost Cities' tension for 3-4 players...
Excellent review ! I knew Mille Fiore was going to be a hit the moment I saw the board and mechanics design and then having Knizia behind it made me jump on it quick - got the Euro edition and printed the English rules. This game is brilliant for a midweight gaming club. Once you learn the rules the first time you’re golden ! Bringing this back to the table again and again is going to be EASY, and people will want to play again to try a different strategy. Knizia has a knack for hitting that dopamine receptor in a gamers brain with simple mechanics and crunchy decision making, but it’s never quite the analysis paralysis that it seemingly could be. What I love and must have in a game is HOW IT ENDS - the end game trigger in Mille Fiore is classic Knizia, and it adds that extra little lightweight tension that makes a game worth playing again. This game when I get it is never leaving my collection !!!
On the case of it being his only entry into point salad, you’re forgetting the recent Witchstone.
Nice review! I got this game a couple weeks ago (from Philibertnet); it was an instant buy for me, since it was Knizia and since Witchstone has been a hit with my gaming group. I've played it twice this week, and I found it to be an accessible and satisfying 1-hour filler. Mille Fiori seems to be Knizia's take on Ganz Schon Clever (and to me, it's very clear that he was thinking about Ganz Schon Clever). Still, there's drafting, though players are interacting together on a shared board (rather than marking on separate sheets), and the extra card actions act like the triggered bonuses from GSC. You can see some parallels between the way an area of the board scores and the way a colored area in GSC scores; also, notice that the "Trade" and "Harbor" areas are intertwined (somewhat resembling the way that the blue and white dice are intertwined in GSC) (also, the colors of the Trade and Harbor areas look a bit like blue + white). I think general audiences will enjoy this one, too.
I agree! I describe Mille Fiori as "Ganz Schön: Clever The Board Game".
This really has a roll and write feel. It does look fun.
Thought the same, is a roll and write with a shared board and expensive components, which I don't mind at all
This looks really fun. Might be the first Knizia game I add to my shelf.
I can't wait to play Millie's Fury!
I’ve been wanting this game ever since I saw the review. I got to check it out at Gen Con and really enjoyed it. I finally have my copy on pre-order. It seems like a nice big step up from a game that my parents always like to play with me which is Sequence.
Thank you for the review.
I can’t believe you forgot Witchstone already.
Point Salad for sure
I've heard the 2-player game was lackluster, and I'm glad you covered that in your review. I'm a fan of Knizia games, but as good as this one looks, I'll likely pass on it because of that.
The BGG forums already have several 2-player variants that block off parts of the board during setup.
I imagine he didn’t use the two player variants.
@@shanerion They're not official. If you're referring to Tom, yes. A reviewer shouldn't critique a game with house rules without mentioning it.
This has a feeling of "That's pretty clever" on a higher level.
Amazing! Thank you
I feel like the "tactical" variant in the rules is preferable with 4 players where you can see what each player is going to play instead of the blind bid base rule. It adds a little bit of time but avoids the frustration your plan being ruined.
Looking forward to this one
Yeah, when I read the rules I thought it's a roll and write but you don't have your own pad, and instead of arbitrary die rolls (which I'm not against, but wouldn't work in this game) you get a bit more tactical play from the cards
This one vs Witchstone which is better for family game?
This is way easier to explain / play
As someone already said, Witchstone by Knizia is also point salad. This game looks better though.
Man, Reiner Knizia sure knows to make games where 'to help myself I set my opponent up to get more points'!
Gives you the 'Lost Cities' tension for 3-4 players...
Looks like a lot of fun...but without a 2-layered board, it's a disaster waiting to happen.
The next Spiel des Jhares😎🤓
I'm thinking Kennerspiel (Quacks and Ganz Schön Clever were both in Kennerspiel category and I see this as comparable).
hello! cards size?
Is that Groot?
A lil too abstract-y, than theme-y, for this complex a game, for me.
Pass.
good god this game is a snorefest
Maybe this game plays well but it looks awful.
Curious - I think it looks fantastic.