Speculaas review: the perfect casual board game?
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Short summary: Speculaas is an accessible drafting game where you collect ingredient cards to fulfill recipes in 20 minutes. With charming design, a 7 Wonders-like card-passing mechanic, and an included café expansion, this is an ideal filler game for families and casual gamers. Easy to learn, surprisingly strategic to play.
What is Speculaas and how does it work?
Speculaas combines simple rules and beautiful design into a surprisingly strategic puzzle that you can quickly pull out when you need to kill twenty minutes.
Each round you receive a stack of cards that you pass to your neighbor – just like in 7 Wonders. From that stack, you always choose either an ingredient card or a recipe card (depending on the round). You place the chosen card in your personal grid in front of you on the table. You score points by fulfilling the conditions of your recipes as well as possible.
The rules are really very simple, so everyone can immediately join in – ideal for families and casual gamers.
How long does a game of Speculaas take?
About 20 minutes – hence our description as a "filler game". It's exactly the right length for when you don't want to start an evening-long strategy game, but still feel like something more than a quick card game.
Allow about five minutes for the explanation, and then you'll be off and running. Due to the short playing time, it's also easy to start a second game immediately – and you almost always do.
What makes Speculaas different from other drafting games?
Passing the card stacks creates a lot of subtle interaction. You see what you're passing and can therefore sometimes try to "snatch" something that the other person needs. Despite its simplicity, the game remains exciting until the last card.
The box also contains an extra café expansion, which provides even more competition and replayability without making the game more complicated. A nice bonus that immediately gives the game more depth if you're ready for a second layer.
What is the design like?
The design is warm, charming, and completely on theme – it spontaneously makes you crave a cookie. The iconography is clear, the materials feel solid, and the game looks as delicious as its name suggests.
For a game in this category (short, accessible, affordable), the production quality is really remarkably good.
Who is Speculaas suitable for?
Speculaas is ideal for:
- Families looking for an accessible but strategic game
- Casual gamers who want to play a full game within 20 minutes
- Fans of 7 Wonders or similar drafting games in a lighter package
- People looking for a filler game during a long game night
Final verdict: is Speculaas worth it?
✓ Delivers on its promise.
Speculaas is exactly what a good filler game should be: quick, accessible, and interactive. The clever draft mechanic, the puzzle, and the fun café expansion ensure that this game will undoubtedly hit the table again soon. A charming recommendation for those who enjoy short, clever games.
Order Speculaas at Bove Bove →
Similar games you might be interested in
- Looking for another fast drafting game? → Check out Sundae Split
- Prefer a similar game with more depth? → Check out 7 Wonders (2nd edition)
- Another charming card game about collecting? → Check out Café Baras