Nice Buns: Light Family Strategy Game for Families and Adults

Product Information

The objective for players in Nice Buns is simple: collect three sets of matching buns before anyone else to win. The twist? You roll three dice and the player on your left decides which you’ll keep and which they’ll keep. Whomever collects three sets of three matching buns, wins! Set Up, Taking A Turn & Fish Buns! Once all the dice have been activated then the dice are passed to the player to the left, who then rolls them, splits them into groups and offers them first to the player on their left and so on. An important caveat is that each player can only ever have one set of a colour of buns on their plate. So, for example, once they have collected a yellow set of three bao buns, they’ll only be interested in green, blue or red bun sets for the rest of the game. The game ends when one player manages to get their third set of buns onto their plate, at which point they have won the game. Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge.

In Nice Buns, players roll three unique dice that grant actions used for collecting bao buns. The outcome of the dice roll is shared with a neighbor. The goal is to be the first person to collect three sets of matching buns. Buns can be collected from a steamer bag, a serving tray in the middle of the table, or from your opponents. But beware of the foul fish head bun! It just might ruin your meal…The core of Nice Buns is the I Split, You Choose mechanism. Firstly, it adds in the player choice for the active player to split the dice up. Then, the other player gets the choice not just for what to take but what to not let you have. Therefore, if it’s your turn and you end up with a bad group of dice it’s your own fault, you grouped the dice. This means the groupings made of the three dice are often fairly balanced, unless an opportunity arises to exploit a player into choosing a normally lesser option.

When a player collects three buns of the same color, they place them on their personal plate where they remain safe. But if a dreaded gray fish head bun shows up, it attaches to your largest group of off-tray buns. The fish head bun prevents you from adding the attached buns to your plate and puts them in danger of being returned to the steamer bag.

Side guide

Now any game where there’s a deal to be made will often result in someone getting greedy. You’ll want all the dice without sharing. However, because someone else’s decision is final, your greed will need to sit this one out. It’s incredibly rare to split the dice three – zero. The player to the left would undoubtedly take the three! However, that doesn’t always lead to their advantage. Those stinky, repulsive (yet terribly cute) fish buns can instantly ruin a well laid plan. Nice Buns differentiates itself from many of its set-collection game peers with the inclusion of the “I Cut, You Choose” mechanic. The majority of the game is in the cutting – players must try to balance the dice knowing they will take the leftovers. Making one pile too powerful rarely benefits the roller. I feel the reason this works so well is because everyone’s buns are always on show. Having a cheeky look to your right and left will let you know what the opposition needs to get a set. Knowing this enables you to put dice more advantageous to you in a deal they won’t refuse… be that forcing them to risk a big loss, or one designed to net you another set. Without this simple element, it’d be all cloak and dagger and no substance. You’ve got to show everyone your buns in this game – it’s what’s best for everyone. The Hierarchy Of Buns