Grease Monkey Garage board game review

Game board Grace Monkey Garage It was announced a long time ago. And now it’s finally available (sales start December 15).

As the name suggests, we run a car repair shop and try to repair different cars using four resources. In addition, the worker movement mechanism is activated with receipt and delivery.

Who is this for and how did I like it, here it comes now..

Game description

First we assemble the central game board. There is the standard plan or in the alternative the plan can also be bundled together individually. The workshop consists of eight different locations. Three other sites can always be accessed from each site. Next to the garage is a set of vehicles to be repaired (X+1) as well as event cards. To do this, four different resources (engine parts, tires, oil, and tools) are placed next to the game board.

Each end of the game gets a warehouse where resources are stored, repairs are made on the left and finished cars are placed on the right. There is also a hidden bonus card

We then play in rounds in which we first read an event card (the event applies to the current round) and then take turns placing our Apprentice (which everyone uses) and our Mechanic in an adjacent position. We do the work there. These could be:

• Get resources
• Resource exchange
• Take the car for repairs
• Repair the car (give away resources and get victory points)
• From the seventh point onwards there is the possibility of appointing a second mechanic

Once the player repairs the sixth car, the round ends and final victory points are assessed from the bonus card. Cars that have not yet been repaired will be given two demerit points.

Author: Fredor Sosnin ■ Graphic artist: Tristam Rusin, Aleksandra Bilić
Publisher: Board Game Circus ■ Publication year: 2023

2-4 players

From 8 years

About 30-40 minutes

Game rules (External link to Board Game Circus)

Gaming feeling

Instructions from Grace Monkey Garage It is written in a very easy and understandable way in six pages, so you can get started with the board game very quickly. Due to the simplicity of the game, the target group is more in the family games category.

What definitely catches the eye is the 1960s retro looking design and materials, which are very attractive and of high quality. The idea of ​​the starting player tag alone was very endearingly implemented.

Actions move very quickly, even in a four-player game. This is also because the actions are very short and the symbolism is easy to understand. It is important to remember to always move the trainee first. However, this is also where the first luck factor comes into play, because my fellow players don’t always behave the way I want, so sometimes the trainee can’t help but cause embarrassment because he’s so far away from the actual goal. (Same thing but looks good in game).

The tendency is to try to reach the 7 victory points as quickly as possible so that you can unlock the second mechanism (then there are 3 actions available instead of 2). However, this move must be well prepared, as it may sometimes take a few moves to reach the Conquest Field with the Mechanic or Apprentice character. However, the mechanic can then significantly speed up your progress compared to competitors.

Since the endgame begins with six completed cards, it’s always helpful to keep an eye on the other players. The type or color accumulated on a bonus card can also provide information, as there can be an additional victory point for each color and type.

There are different strategies to win the game. On the one hand, be very quick and only focus on one or two point repairs, and also look for high value cars at first in order to unlock the second mechanic.

Let’s come to two criticisms of the game:

About the an offer New cars arrive that need repairs. Unfortunately, there is no built-in mechanism in the game that allows the card display to be automatically exchanged. So there were games in which it was no longer beneficial for some players to obtain new vehicles (penalty of minus 2 points), especially in the final third of the match. Therefore, the screen remained unchanged, which is somewhat disappointing, because no one wanted to risk repairing four pieces (in case of blind pulling from the tow pile).

the Event cards It comes in both reward and punishment forms. I perceived this as light and shadow in parts. On the one hand, the scripts aren’t 100% clearly defined, so there was room for interpretation here and there, and on the other hand, punishment cards in particular can be a very annoying encroachment on resources. Especially if a person is currently saving for more expensive repairs. I didn’t always feel well.

…But: On the other hand, cards also bring a tactical sequence to the game, so that every round does not look the same and you have to adapt your actions to the new circumstances in a short time.

A small inconvenience factor can be included in the game (which can be turned on or off). If you run out of resources in the supply, you can help yourself from other players.

Regardless of whether there are two, three or four people, Grace Monkey Garage Plays relatively similar. When the staff is complete, there may be greater variety in presentation and greater movement for the trainee.

Once you’ve played the game a few times, it’s possible to make the game board more diverse and break away from the basic game board layout.

summary

Grace Monkey Garage It impresses with its simple and quick gameplay. This ensures high game flow and there is a race for the most profitable car repairs, as you must always keep a close eye on the competition and the endgame.

Overall, the game is a well-illustrated board game with minor weaknesses. In particular, the non-changing card display should have one House rule (The last card always disappears from the screen at the end of the round).

• Lovingly thoughtful design for the material.
• Fast and easy-to-carry actions result in almost no downtime in the game
• Event cards activate tactical items
• Some variation in game material

• However, event cards can also be very punitive
• The view no longer changes after a certain point, as cards are not automatically removed at the end of the round.

From my point of view as a player: Grace Monkey Garage It’s clearly aimed at family players who want a board game that’s less strategy and more tactics, with short, quick decisions.

Grace Monkey Garage It can be a feel-good game if one or two event cards don’t bother the players. Although I understand very well why they were included. The screen also no longer changes from a certain point in the game, meaning that it’s much harder – if the screen isn’t right – to get useful car cards (see House Rules!)