WBG Score: 7.5
Player Count: 2-6
You’ll like this if you like: Galaxy Trucker, Captain Sonar, Escape: The Curse of the Temple.
Published by: Capital Gains Studio
Designed by: Steve Ng Wen Xi
This is a review copy. See our review policy her
Makan Mania invites players into the bustling world of a vibrant Makan restaurant during lunchtime. In this dice-rollin', card-draftin', real-time set-collection game, you'll need to keep your cool under pressure. Can you secure your favourite table, make your food choices swiftly, and snag first dibs on the drinks? Is this really how it works in a Makan restaurant? Probably not, but the game is fun. Let's get it to the table and see how it plays.
How To Set Up Makan Mania
Let's set up the game! Start by placing the 1 and 88 tables separately. Then, add enough additional tables so that there's one for each player. Now, it's time for everyone to select a tray card and the three dice matching their chosen colour. After that, shuffle the food and drinks cards separately and place them face down in two distinct stacks. Reveal two food cards for each player and one drink card per player. Finally, gather all the coins into a single pile near the cards along with the round tracker card. Now, you're all set and ready to dive into the game.
How To Play Makan Mania
The game is played over five rounds. You can use drink cards as a tracker for which round you are on by placing them onto the round tracker card as below. The first part of each round is called The Rush. Here, all players roll their dice simultaneously. Players are looking to match the dice they rolled with the numbers on the face-up food cards. Each card needs either one or two dice to match and claim the card. Players can re-roll their dice however they please, as fast as they like. This element is a real-time race. There are no turns. When you have matched the dice face on the card you want, place your dice onto it in order to claim that card. The food card score you either three or seven end game points. Then, place your tray card and all remaining dice onto any unoccupied table card of your choice. When there is only one table card remaining, the final player has to stop re-rolling their dice and claim any food card they can with whatever their current roll is. That last player then claims the final table card.
Players then move into the second phase, The Queue. Here, players take turns, based on the table number they have (lowest table first) to buy drink cards. They can do this with whatever dice they have left. The tables also provide the players with a bonus. Table 88 gains one coin and a bonus die to roll in the next round. Tables 1, 3, and 5 provide one, two, and three coins respectively. And tables 2 and 4 provide a dice discount when buying drinks this round.
The drinks cost either dice or money and work in conjunction with the food cards to score you points at the end of the game. The drinks are not replenished, so there is a benefit to buying them earlier, although the higher table numbers give you a larger benefit. The drink cards score points based on a variety of factors such as the type of dice faces shown on the food cards you acquired during the game, being paired with specific meals, or can earn you dice discounts when buying other drinks, or coins when in The Queue phase in later rounds.
Players can use their tray abilities to enhance their chances. Tray abilities range from allowing players to either double the benefits from the table they chose that round, to earning extra coins, points, and even having exclusive access to certain drink cards for purchase.
Players will earn one coin for any unspent dice during this phase. When all players have had their turn, discard any remaining cards, replenish the food and drink cards, and start the next round. After the fifth round, calculate each player's points, and the person with the most points is declared the winner.
Is It Fun? Makan Mania Card Game Review
Makan Mania deploys the highly popular Kawaii style art, adding cute anime faces to the food and drinks. Everything is themed beautifully to be like you are in a Makan Cafe. But it won't feel like that as you play. It will feel rushed, frantic, and highly competitive. If you like games like this, then there are some interesting scoring options to pair certain cards together to really boost your performance. If you find games like this stressful, then this one will not be for you.
But for fans of real-time games, there is something really rather special about Makan Mania. The game is so simply designed you could be fooled into thinking this is light on strategy and any considered thought. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a quick, light, filler game. But there is some strategy required. Pairing the right cards together, knowing when to fight hard to get a specific card, and other times, to get anything so you can get first pick of the tables as there is a must-buy drink on the table. It all adds up to a surprisingly interesting game. Light and fun. But with meaningful decisions.
The real-time aspects only last for one part of one phase, so if you don't like this, then you will still have fun in the game, I hope. But being able to quickly pick up and re-roll your dice, faster than the other players, when under the real-time pressure of knowing others are doing the same thing at the same time and potentially grabbing the exact card you need can be stress-inducing for some players. It can also be disappointing if you regularly get unlucky with your rolls and others get lucky, and you miss out. But being able to pivot strategy and work with other cards is crucial here. After six games at two, three, and four players, I have yet to see a runaway leader; despite regularly seeing one player seemingly get all the luck. Even if you don't get the rolls you want first, this doesn't mean other players will run away with it. It's worth explaining that when playing with younger players!
What makes Makan Mania so captivating is how it seamlessly blends high-speed gameplay with strategic depth. Sure, it's fast-paced, but there's more to it than just rolling dice and hoping for the best. You'll need to think on your feet, weighing your options carefully with each roll and move. It strikes a perfect balance between quick reflexes and smart planning, giving players a satisfyingly challenging experience.
If you're into games that keep you on your toes, Makan Mania delivers big time. Every turn is a race against the clock, with the game's real-time elements adding an extra layer of excitement. It's all about making split-second decisions and seizing opportunities before they slip away. Whether you're snagging those must-have food cards or jockeying for position at the best table, the thrill of the chase is downright addictive.
And while Makan Mania might not be everyone's cup of Iced Lemon Tea, its mix of speed and strategy makes it a must-try for gamers who crave a little adrenaline with their table top fun. It's a wild ride from start to finish, proving that fast-paced gaming can be just as satisfying as it is exhilarating. So if you're ready to roll the dice and dive headfirst into some high-speed hijinks, Makan Mania is waiting to whisk you away.