The Mindbug series promises a TCG experience in a single box. In this fast-paced duel players dispatch hybrid creatures to do their bidding in a game of psychological warfare. Each player has two Mindbugs at their disposal. These otherworldly pests are incredibly persuasive (thanks to keen brainwashing powers) and can instantly turn any creature against its master. Think twice before playing a card – it might just beat you to a pulp.
Battlefruit Kingdom builds upon the existing foundation set by previous Mindbug titles and juices things up with a new keyword and a countdown mechanic. These simple changes allow for a deeper strategy for veteran Mindbuggers while remaining accessible to newbies.
Mindbug: Battlefruit Kingdom is a standalone expansion that is currently on Gamefound along with its sister expansion, Mindbug: Battlefruit Galaxy (which I am not covering). Both of these expansions can be played alone, or mixed with Mindbug: First Contact or other Mindbug standalone expansions. The Gamefound campaign also includes an add-on pack for the new 4-player mode which allows for a 2 vs 2 play with team-specific card effects.
Game at a Glance
- Nerdlab Games
- Players: 2 or 4
- Ages: 8+
- Time: 15-20 min
- Competitive
- A review copy of this game was provided by the publisher; however, my opinions are my own
Rules Overview
Whether you are familiar with previous iterations of Mindbug or not, this is an easy game to hop into. This is a two-player duel where players start with a 10 creature card deck, 2 Mindbug cards, and 3 life points. The setup is simple: shuffle and deal 10 cards to the players. Without looking at the cards each player draws five from their deck to create their starting hand, then proceed to take turns playing cards or taking actions.
Each card has some sort of ability, such as a keyword bonus, an action benefit, or a mix of several. Gamers must assess the cards in hand and what has been played to figure out how to sneak past or obliterate the opponent’s defenses. The goal is to reduce your opponent’s life to zero.
When a card is played the opponent might use a Mindbug card to control it. When this happens that card immediately joins the opponent’s side and receives all play effects associated with the played card. If the card is not Mindbugged, it remains in its original play area and any applicable effects are resolved.
Played creatures offer defense to the player, but may also be used for attacks. When attacked an opponent may choose if they want to block the attack, and which of their creatures cards will be used for that action. Blocked attacks prevent the player from losing a life point, but can come at the cost of losing the card if the creature has a lower power level than the attacker’s.
Of course, the game would be boring without some special effects to liven things up. That’s where the keywords and abilities come in. They grant special rule-breaking abilities to the creatures during attack and/or defense actions, such as sneaking past creature cards to attack the opponent or to poison other cards, instantly eliminating them.
Battlefruit Kingdom adds some new twists to the base game. There is now a new keyword (“fast”) and a Harvest action that adds a timer mechanic using tokens:
New Keyword: Fast
Fast creatures may attack or activate their Action effect in the turn it comes into play. These creatures are fantastic for a quick offense but be warned: if it is Mindbugged, the original player will become its target.
New Ability: Harvest
Some creatures carry a substance called “Octonite” represented by tokens that are added to them when played. At the beginning of each turn, players will harvest a token by removing it from the card. Its unique Harvest effect is activated when the final token is removed.
Impressions
The first thing noticed in any Mindbug game is the aesthetic – quirky hybrid creatures dominate the cards and bring a strong personality to the game. The same style is present here but with a fruity flair. The Battlefruits – fruit, vegetable, and fungal chimeras – are the stars of the show and they look ready for a fight. In this game, salads bite back…
The illustrations steal the show, but the card text is the most important element of gameplay. The card powers can combine in several ways allowing for plenty of strategic combinations. Each unique card can be useful in certain situations. All cards have a weakness, but a good player quickly fortifies their playing area with the right allies to work around any deficiency. Players have limited knowledge about what is in their deck and never know which of their soldiers will defect, so the ability to think around new obstacles is a dynamic tactical puzzle. Each game feels different and there is plenty of replay value here.
The big twist that separates these games from other trading card games (TCGs) is control through the Mindbug cards. These “bodysnatchers” take over an opponent’s card, forcing it to fight on the other side. One of the most important choices in the game is the timing of when to use your Mindbugs. A well-played Mindbug can change the course of the battle. Players have two Mindbug actions to use during the duel and they mustn’t be wasted.
Mindbug plays like a TCG but does not require players to build their decks. Opponents fight with cards from the same main deck – everyone starts on the same playing field. With any card game, luck is in the draw, but Mindbug is more about managing what you get as opposed to relying on a few strong creatures. The Mindbug cards are the ultimate balancing tool, allowing every player a chance at any (alleged) overpowered card their opponent plays.
For those familiar with previous iterations of Mindbug, Battlefruit Kingdom adds a bit more to chew on. The game has always had a knack for making players feel wary about which cards they should play and the addition of the Fast creatures ramp up the paranoia. Thanks to the stealing mechanic, Fast cards feel risky and players need to be sure they can afford the cost if the creature is turned against them.
The most significant addition is the Harvest countdown tokens. The Octinite-infused creatures have a variety of special effects. Some are strong soldiers during their brief stint in action but are automatically defeated upon final harvest. Others count down to powerful effects such as gaining life, preventing the opponent from blocking attacks, or in the case of the card with the longest activation time, causing immediate victory. The trick with these creatures is keeping them alive long enough to reap the benefits of their final harvest. Despite being powerful allies, they telegraph the player’s intentions. The longer the countdown, the more time an opponent has to react to its upcoming effect.
Each duel takes about 15-20 minutes with minimal setup time. In those few minutes, there are plenty of meaningful decisions to make making the game easy to want to play back-to-back.
Final Thoughts
Existing fans should know that Mindbug: Battlefruit Kingdom keeps everything that made the original a hit – a TCG experience in a single box, outlandish animal-hybrid artwork, a lightning-quick play experience that lends itself to back-to-back battles, simple rules, and best of all, a clever psychological duel that keeps you guessing at your opponent’s intentions. It builds upon this foundation by juicing up what’s already there with a new keyword that adds even more tension to the card-play action, and a countdown mechanic that allows a glimpse into the future. These simple changes allow for a deeper strategy for veteran Mindbuggers.
If you can’t get enough Mindbug, backing this should be a no-brainer. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a veteran player to enjoy this newest iteration. Battlefruit Kingdom allows players to explore seemingly endless strategies, yet the ruleset remains simple and accessible. The Battlefruit series is worthy as both a new chapter in the expanding saga and as an entry point to the Mindbug universe
The Gamefound campaign includes both Mindbug: Battlefruit Kingdom and Mindbug: Battlefruit Galaxy. Also included in the campaign is an add-on pack for the new 4-player mode which allows for a 2 vs 2 play with team-specific card effects. If you are interested in learning more, please visit:
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/marvin-hegen/mindbug-battlefruits#/section/project-story
Tabletop Mom 