[Dragon's Breath Review] Collect gems from the ice tower! An engaging family game that won the 2018 German Kids' Game of the Year Award
Dragon's Breath (Funkelschatz) is a board game for children made by the German company HABA, in which players collect gems that fall from ice pillars.
In this article, we will introduce the 2018 German Kids' Game of the Year Awards. We will provide a detailed review of the appeal of the winning works and their actual gameplay experience.
Game Basics
Dragon's Breath is an action and set collection game for 2-4 players, ages 5 and up, and takes 15-20 minutes to play.
The game was designed by Günter & Lena Burkhardt and published by the German company HABA. It is a much talked about title that won the Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children's Game of the Year) award in 2018.
The core mechanics of the game are extremely simple.
Players place colorful gem tokens inside an ice pillar made of nine plastic rings, then take turns removing the rings to let the gems fall. Each round, players choose the color of gem they want to aim for, and when the gems of that color fall, they can collect them in their own cave (scoring area).
The game box itself is designed to function as a board, with the four corners of the box being the player's cave and the center being the Dragon Papa's cave.
This system makes setup and storage extremely easy.
The allure of Dragon's Breath
It features visual impact and immersion, exquisitely balanced strategy, diverse gameplay options, and high educational value.
Visual impact and immersion
HABA's production quality is excellent: the wooden pieces are thick and sturdy, the colors are bright and vibrant, and the artwork is inspiring and engaging.
The sparkling jewels look attractive in a child's hand, and the Dragon Daddy top represents a fatherly figure quietly watching over his children.
When children play the game, it's not just a board game, but they "pretend to be a fire-breathing dragon on an ice pillar."
The sight of a child actually making a fire-breathing sound when lifting the ring is proof that they are truly immersed in a fantasy world.
Perfectly balanced strategy
While the game has a strategic element ("Which color gem should I aim for this time?"), it's primarily based on luck, making it fun for all ages.
Players can choose a color based on which gems are likely to fall based on the gems visible on the top layer of the central pillar. However, since it is impossible to predict what will actually fall, a moderate amount of randomness is maintained.
As the game progresses, subtle tactics emerge.
The player who last chooses the gem color will be the one to remove the next ring, so deciding which color to keep is an important decision.
Diverse play variations
In addition to the basic game, there is a "Toddler Variant" (where the first color you choose is used until the end) and a "Secret Variant" (where you choose a color tile face down), allowing you to adjust the rules as your players grow.
High educational value
The game contains many elements that contribute to children's cognitive development, such as color recognition, number concepts, understanding turn-based systems, and prediction abilities.
Many parents have praised the program for allowing their children to learn counting, recognizing colors, and strategic thinking while having fun.
Concerns and solutions
We will introduce solutions for playing with adults only, challenges when playing with two people, and the hassle of cleaning up.
Not enough for adults to play alone
Adults may get bored of the game after a few tries, as it has limited strategic depth and is primarily a game of chance.
Solution: Play it as a family game with your children to unleash its true charm.
We recommend using it as a communication tool between parents and children, and as an introduction for children to discover the fun of board games.
Two-player issues
In two-player games, players each aim for half the gems, which can make the competitive feel less intense.
Solution: Play with 3-4 players whenever possible, or in two-player games, adopt the "choose two colors each" rule to increase your options.
The hassle of tidying up
Some people say that the jewels tend to scatter and cleaning up can be a bit of a hassle.
Solution: After the game is over, you can make cleaning up a fun part of the game experience by working with your child to collect all the gems left in the center hole.
Recommended for these people and occasions
This is the perfect game for families, board game beginners, childcare and education settings, and anyone who wants to have fun in a short amount of time.
Ideal for families
This is a rare game that can be enjoyed by children of a wide age range, from 2 to 6 years old.
One actual experience testimonial states, "It was a big hit at my 5-year-old grandson's birthday party. Both parents could play together and the game ran smoothly."
As an introduction to board games for beginners
The simple rules, easy for children to understand, and the system that provides immediate feedback make it ideal for families with no prior experience with board games.
Use in childcare and education settings
It is also suitable for group activities in kindergartens and after-school care, as it helps with color recognition, learning numbers, practicing taking turns and developing fine motor skills.
When you want to get excited in a short amount of time
It can be enjoyed in 15-45 minutes (1-3 games) and is easy to set up and take down, making it a great way to fill spare time in your busy daily life or as entertainment for guests.
summary
Dragon's Breath is an excellent family game that offers beautiful visuals, thematic appeal, and 15-45 minutes of gentle competition.
As a work that is worthy of the Kinderspiel des Jahres award, it has all three elements: rules, components, and educational elements, and will continue to be loved in many homes for a long time.
Why not pretend to be dragons with your child and embark on an adventure to collect jewels from the ice tower?
Link to the official rules video
Check the product on the online store page
Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.
Reference source/quote source
- GeekDad - Tabletop Review: 'Dragon's Breath'
- Meeple Mountain - Dragon's Breath Game Review
- Islay the Dragon - Review: Dragon's Breath
- BoardGameGeek - Dragon's Breath Community Review Excerpt