Koi (CZ)

Product detailed description

Create a pond where koi carp will thrive among water lilies, stone banks, and the quiet corners of a Japanese garden. Every tile, lantern, and correctly placed carp will determine who succeeds in building the most harmonious place, full of color and tranquility.

In Koi, you become breeders of ornamental carp who build their own ponds inspired by traditional Japanese gardens. You gradually add tiles representing water, leaves, banks, and other elements so that your carp have the best possible living space. The better the koi are surrounded by water and water lilies, the more victory points you earn. However, the game isn’t limited to simply creating a pretty picture. You must constantly think about how to use your moves effectively, how to expand your pond correctly, and when to invest in new koi.

The main game mechanic is selecting cards from the central deck. Each card provides a different benefit—new tiles, coins, special abilities, or helpers that expand your options during the game. Timing is crucial, as cheaper cards tend to be less advantageous, and the stronger ones often disappear right before your opponents’ eyes. In addition to building your pond, you also strive to complete tasks that add another layer of strategy to the game. For example, you can acquire decorative bridges, statues, weeping willows, or a rare century-old carp.

Spatial planning also plays a major role. Koi of different sizes take up varying amounts of space, and their placement determines the final scoring. Water lilies increase the value of neighboring koi, lanterns illuminate parts of the pond, and some special tiles offer unique scoring opportunities. Although the rules aren’t complicated, every decision matters. As a result, the game feels calm and clear, yet it forces you to think several moves ahead.

• Building your own pond creates a pleasant sense of development during the game, and each game ends with a completely different composition.
• The rules can be explained in a few minutes, yet the game offers plenty of room for planning and clever combinations.
• The combination of water lilies, lanterns, bridges, and carp creates a very elegant and thematically cohesive whole on the table.
• Selecting cards from the deck involves constant decisions where you must keep track of your own strategy as well as your opponents’ plans.
• The koi scoring system rewards clever spatial placement and forces you to carefully consider each new tile.
• Tasks and special tiles significantly increase variability, so individual games don’t feel repetitive.
• Thanks to its more relaxed pace, the game is also suitable for players who prefer more laid-back strategic titles.
• The solo mode offers several scenarios and different victory conditions, so you can enjoy the game even without a group.
• The game system elegantly combines resource management, spatial development, and the tactical timing of individual actions.
• The theme of ornamental ponds and koi carp feels fresh and sets the game apart from typical fantasy or historical titles.

Koi was released in 2025 by the Italian publisher DV Games. The game is inspired by Japanese culture, traditional gardens, and the history of ornamental koi carp breeding, as koi are a symbol of happiness, perseverance, and harmony in Japan.

A trio of Italian game designers—Rosaria Battiato, Massimo Borzì, and Martino Chiacchiera—worked on the game’s design. The illustrations were created by Italian illustrator Emiliano Castellano, whose work significantly contributes to the game’s serene atmosphere. The designers focused on combining accessible rules with a well-thought-out scoring system and an emphasis on the aesthetic aspects of the game space.

The game itself also includes short texts on the history of koi carp and their significance in Japanese culture. You’ll learn, for example, why they are referred to as “floating flowers” or how some of the well-known color variations of these fish came to be. Thanks to this, Koi feels not only like an abstract strategy game but also like a thematically cohesive experience.

Contents

• 1 bid board
• 4 sensei boards
• 4 spring tiles
• 170 pond tiles
• 21 koi tiles
• 30 coins
• 12 luck tokens
• 48 playing cards
• 4 overview cards
• 10 task cards
• 26 task tiles
• 6 storage expansion tiles
• 1 score pad
• Czech rules

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