Since ancient times, bears have sparked our imagination. One need look no further than the sky for proof of man’s enduring fascination with these mighty mammals. Of the 48 constellations described by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy, Ursa Major: The Great Bear is among the most recognizable. At once cute and ferocious (depending on their mood), bears are a must-see anytime you can view them (from a safe distance, of course). Now, Mayfair Games and Phil Walker-Harding (Imhotep, Sushi Go!) are going to help you bring these creatures to your tabletop with our latest release: Bärenpark!

In Bärenpark, players try to assemble the finest zoo in all the land. But, these nature parks have a particular specialization: they’re all devoted to the majestic bear. Bärenpark challenges players in multiple ways. First, they must take advantage of special spaces on the board to draw valuable tiles before those tiles are claimed by their opponents. Second, the players must contend with the puzzle aspect of their boards, making sure they draw tiles that fit on their boards and trigger the tile draw the player needs at that point in the game. Finally, as boards are completed, a skilled player can delay or speed up the end of the game if they play their tiles right.

Players will assemble their zoos from “Green Spaces” (toilets, rivers, playgrounds, and eateries), animal houses, bear enclosures, and bear statues. The Animal Houses and Enclosures are devoted to four different species: Gobi Desert Bears, Polar Bears, Pandas, and Koalas. And, yes, after extensive investigation our cunning animal specialists have determined that Koalas are not bears, but marsupials, still, you try telling a teary-eyed Koala they have to go home when you make your bear game and we’ll see how you do. Plus, they’re so darn cute!

Each turn, you’ll play exactly one tile. When you do, there are several special spaces on the board to watch out for. If you cover one of these special spaces with a tile, you immediately draw a new tile of a specific type. The Green Wheelbarrow lets you draw a Green Spaces tile of your choice, the Cement Truck permits you to take one of the top Animal House tiles, the Excavator allows you to take one of the top Enclosure tiles, and with the Construction Crew you can erect another plot onto your park. 

Claiming a tile not only gives you more options, but Animal Houses and Enclosures are worth more points when they’re claimed early. Animal Houses are worth a maximum of seven (7) points while Enclosures are worth as much as eight (8). Each subsequent tile drawn is worth less points, to a minimum of one (1) point for an Animal House and six (6) points for an Enclosure.

Since there’s no “hand limit” to the number of tiles you can have, you should always try to claim them as quickly as possible. If you ever find yourself without a tile to play, you must skip your entire turn to draw a Green Spaces tile, the least valuable in the game. In other words, always try to snag tiles whenever you can!

There’s one other special space on each board we haven’t covered yet — a square with ‘warning tape’ around it. This space may only be used when you’ve filled every other space on a board. When you do, you immediately draw a Bear Statue as a free action and place it in the empty square. Like Animal Houses and Enclosures, these statues are worth more the sooner you draw one — as many as 16 points!

Players keep adding additional lots to their park, up to a maximum of four. Once a player has filled four, the game ends and the highest scoring park is the winner! For players who want a greater challenge, the game also offers Achievements. These are special game conditions that award bonus points when gained by the player. For example, three Enclosures of specific values will grant a player bonus points and might encourage a player to take a lower-scoring Enclosure to snag the achievement.

Bärenpark was designed by Phil Walker-Harding with art by Klemens Franz for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up. Games take between 30 and 45 minutes to play.