Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 45-60 min
Age requirements: 10+
Set-up time: 5 minutes

Pastiche Rules Description:

Pastiche is a board game about painting. You must complete commissions to score points. But first you must mix the palette required to paint the masterpiece.

You start the game with two commission cards, two palette hexes and one card of each secondary color. These represent the works you are to replicate. Each commission card shows the colors needed to paint it.

You must mix colors by laying one of your palette hexes next to an existing one. Depending on how the dabs of blue, red and yellow on each hex line up, you’ll mix different colors.

After you collect the appropriate colors cards, you can trade color cards with other players or the bank. If you want you may also exchange one of your two commission cards with one from the public gallery.

Next you may complete any commission cards in your hand or the public gallery. Place completed commission cards face-up in front of you. Show the colors you used to complete the painting and return them to the color palette board. Then replace the commission card whether it was from your hand or the public gallery. You finish your turn by discarding down to eight color cards and drawing a new hex palette.

The game end once players reach a certain number of points based on the number of players. You score your completed commission cards getting bonus points for completing more paintings by the same artist. You also gain points for color cards in your hand that could be used in your personal commission cards. Highest score wins.

A Quick Review of Pastiche:

Pastiche is gorgeous, accessible and fun. It is great for families and non-gamers (especially if they like art). Pastiche is easy to teach and learn.

The components in Pastiche are awesome; thick cardboard, cute easels and simply beautiful art and design. The rules are easy to understand and follow. They even include some color theory.

That leads me to the next excellent part of this game. It is educational. This can help kids learn about mixing colors and the works of art. Each commission card gives the name of the piece, the painter, their nationality and other great details.

Pastiche works great as a gateway game. It features tile-laying, trading and set-collection. There is thought and strategy involved, but not so much to overwhelm non-gamers.

If you enjoy art and board games you should check out Pastiche. This game is excellent for families and can be enjoyed by a variety of ages. You might even learn something.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 3 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6