Sometimes you know someone so well that you know what each other is thinking and can communicate without words. This is just the sort of person you belong in an ensemble with! Luigi Ferrini and Daniele Ursini's Ensemble, from Ares Games, encourages players to get on the same wavelength and cooperate in an easygoing party game for up to 10 players.
Contrary to what's suggested by the box art, this game is not about music but about working together like a fine-tuned orchestra. Gameplay starts with two cards placed along the round tracker and a challenge card nearby. The group has a number of life tokens equal to the number of players and each has a set of voting cards which correspond to the numbers along the track. The aim of the game is for all players to get in sync and vote for the same card which most relates to the challenge card, which can be tricky when you’re not allowed to compare sheet music.
Each player must vote in secret for the card they feel best relates to the challenge card, be that by colour, theming or just because there’s no other clear option. Should the players be perfectly on the same page, the round marker proceeds along the track, the group gain a life, the chosen card becomes the new challenge card and any spaces on the track is refilled up to the marker. Should there be an odd note out the players still progress to the next round; however, they do not gain a life. And should everyone be singing from a different hymn sheet then they do not progress to the next round, they lose a life token and must replay the round.
The aim of the game is to survive all nine rounds and the additional scenarios included can add a new twist once the base goal has been achieved. It’s not as easy as it sounds, however, as the game becomes progressively harder as players have more cards to choose from and so less chance to be on the same page.
Ensemble is a great lightweight game for parties and family gatherings, ideally where there's no inquest demanding you explain your allegedly poor card choices! It is very satisfying when groups are in sync, and a good game for well-matched couples, although don’t assume another couple will understand your train of thought. The difficulty curve works well with the additional cards creating a challenge even as player competence improves over the course of the game, and more people create an added level of chaos. The artwork on the cards is bright and evocative, and the cards are varied enough that you can always find some link, no matter how tenuous others might think it to be...
Boards Eye View cannot be held responsible for the family debates as players miss obvious clues, because of course the best match for Puss in Boots is a dinosaur wearing a chicken costume!
(Review by Claire Woodward)