# The Grand Carnival ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2020 - **BGG Rating**: 7.5 - **BGG Rank**: #1889 - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 45-60 min - **Weight**: 2.21 / 5 - **Designers**: Rob Cramer - **Artists**: Ryan Goldsberry - **Publishers**: Uproarious Games, Maldito Games, Skellig Games - **Categories**: Puzzle - **Mechanics**: Grid Coverage, Grid Movement, Layering, Open Drafting, Pattern Building, Square Grid, Tile Placement ## Verdict If you love building layouts and planning every move, you’ll love Grand Carnival.Engaging fit‑puzzle challengeGrid‑coverage strategyFun retro aestheticRequires careful number coverageModerate complexity for beginnersHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Picture yourself in the heart of a massive amusement park, but instead of buying tickets, you’re tasked with building the biggest, brightest, and most profitable carnival the town has ever seen. In The Grand Carnival, each player receives a board full of numbers that, when covered, unlock actions with different effects—placing foundations, building polyomino attractions, moving visitors, or hiring a barker to speed up circulation. The grid‑coverage mechanic forces you to strategically decide which number to use each turn, because it determines how many options are available and when it will reappear. The square grid and tile‑placement require you to plan the layout of attractions within 2×2 blocks, balancing high‑ticket attractions with walkways that let visitors move. When a visitor lands next to an attraction, they drop a ticket—and if you manage to move all visitors through the park, you earn bonus points. Additionally, the “Tricks of the Trade” cards grant unique abilities once you meet specific conditions; each time a player unlocks a trick, opponents have one turn to match the requirement or lose access to that trick for the rest of the game. The game ends after seven rounds, and the winner is the one with the most points from sets of attractions of the same size, each attraction size, barkers, and visitors who traversed the park. The amusement‑park theme and retro aesthetic pair with the layering and tile‑placement mechanics, delivering a visually fun and strategic experience that rewards space optimization and movement anticipation. Perfect for those who enjoy fitting‑puzzle challenges, layout planning, and score‑competition, The Grand Carnival offers 45‑60 minutes of gameplay where every decision counts. ## FAQ ### How many players can play? 1 to 4 players, perfect for family or friends. ### What is the average playtime? Each game lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, ideal for afternoon or evening sessions. ### How complex is the game? The grid‑coverage and layering mechanics provide moderate complexity, accessible to beginners and challenging for veterans. ### What are the main components? Player boards, 2×2 polyomino tiles, visitor tokens, ticket tokens, and trade‑trick cards. ### Is the game suitable for kids? Yes, with supervision; it involves planning and logic, but can be simplified for younger players. ### Is there a digital version? Yes, a mod is available on TableTop Simulator, allowing online or solo play. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 44.85 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6078161&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 44.92 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5429618&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 52.78 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3858669&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 53.88 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6866303&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 53.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5139346&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 54.54 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6866302&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/37637/the-grand-carnival?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com