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Are you that person who walks past the Krispy Crème counter and instantly starts salivating? Does the 24 pack of defrosted pink sprinkled donuts always tempt you? Or maybe that succulent, rich, jam-filled balls of sugary supremacy are more your kind of delicious temptation? Whatever donut delicacy is your go-to choice, Go Nuts For Donuts has you covered!
The Ingredients…
Go Nuts For Donuts is brought to us by the same company that stuffed our watering mouths with the oh-so-delicious set collecting game Sushi Go and subsequently Sushi Go Party. And who doesn’t want an intense sugary overload after loading up on a main course of seafood?
This game is incredibly simple. As much as Sushi Go really set the bar for an easy introduction into set collection mechanics, slathered over a theme that was eye-catching and welcoming, I would argue that Go Nuts For Donuts is just as significant as a welcoming game. Where Sushi Go implements card drafting into set collection, Go Nuts For Donuts implements secret bidding instead. I think both are incredible games to have in your arsenal if you are bringing new people into the hobby.
The Rich Flavour…
So let us take a moment to take in the whimsical theme. Donuts. Before seeing this game, I would never have considered that drawing faces on donuts would make for such a cute little theme. It is undoubtedly the thing that will draw people to the game, and for good reason.
The game itself is one of the lighter games I have ever played. And coming from a guy who tends to find himself playing more light games than any other, that is saying something. The game can be learned and taught within a minute and can be played within ten minutes. It is the first game I have ever come across that actually plays in LESS time than the box estimates.
The great thing about all of this combined (the theme, ease of play, short game length) is that you can easily play this game with your game group between bigger games, use it to introduce new gamers into set collecting and secret bidding mechanics, and even teach it to your children. Being such a joyful theme really does propel the game into being what I would consider a staple game for a collection.
The Cream Filling…
The core of Go Nuts for Donuts really comes down to collecting sets of donuts. I am pretty sure that much is obvious at this point. The thing that really sets this game apart though is just how well it scales between player counts. It is not just a game that works well with different amounts of people, but the deck changes accordingly. The more players you have, the bigger variety of donut types you have to work with, each with their own point values and abilities.
Delving even deeper into this shows us that if you are playing the game with a young one or with a new gamer, then the game is simpler and the abilities in the sets are much easier to work with. If you are playing it between big games with your gaming group, then there will be more interesting combos and tactics you can pull off with a bigger pool of actions available to you. I think this is absolutely superb. Whether intentional or not, this is the real clutch of the game for me, securing it a permanent place in my collection.
The Icing on Top…
The artwork on this game is just great. It is simple, somewhat silly artwork like this that really helps set the tone for a chilled-out game and never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces. Just looking at this game and you know instantly that it is a game that you aren’t going to struggle with, and I think that is truly key in encouraging new people to the hobby.
I love how every different donut type has their own different faces drawn on to them, it really brings the extra personality touches that help you engage with the game. If it had just simply been artwork of donuts, the game would have a very mundane feeling to it. This is a brilliant example of a game where the choice of artwork really helps to elevate the game itself.
The cards are all incredibly easy to understand and are even colour coded for each different player count.
The component is also decent. Whilst not mind-blowing by any means, the fact that the cards are linen finish make them water-resistant. This is great, as the likelihood of drinking being involved when playing with adults is (in my experience) pretty damn high. The game is also damn good value for money and easy to replace if any damage were to unfortunately happen.
The Final Bite…
Go Nuts For Donuts is a great little game. Perfect for many different occasions and situations and adapts well for player counts and ages. It is a lot of fun to play (especially after a few tipples) and brings smiles aplenty. The game adds a bit of childish charm and personality to your game collection and will be pulled out fairly often with a group that has a playful sense of humour.
If you have a sweet tooth then Go Nuts For Donuts will help you scratch that craving for sugary delight.
