Carnival of Monsters
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.2 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
Carnival of Monsters is a card-drafting game by Richard Garfield in which 2-5 players compete to build the most impressive collection of captured monsters for the prestigious Royal Monstrological Society. Over four seasons, players draft land cards to fund expeditions, hire staff, and pursue secret goals, scoring points for displayed monsters, completed goals, and earned gold crowns. Loans let players stretch their budget at a cost, adding a light economic risk-reward layer. The player with the most spectacular carnival at the end wins membership.
Hobbli's Notes
Carnival of Monsters brings Richard Garfield's knack for elegant drafting design to a whimsical monster-collecting theme. The set-collection and drafting combo is approachable but has enough depth in loan management and goal-chasing to reward planning. Its charming, monstrous artwork adds a lot of table appeal. A pleasant mid-weight drafting game for groups who enjoyed Garfield's other card-based designs.
What we like
- Elegant drafting design from a respected designer.
- Charming monster theme and artwork.
- Multiple scoring paths add strategic variety.
- Loan mechanic adds light economic tension.
Keep in mind
- Moderate downtime during drafting phases.
- Scoring can feel swingy based on card availability.
- May feel similar to other drafting games without much innovation.
Who it's for
Good for 2-5 players (10+) who enjoy card drafting, set collection, and light economic risk-taking with a whimsical monster theme.
