One of the games that I want to get in print, but it doesn’t exist is 61 Autumn Leaves. This is a roll and write game that was put out for a charity event and that’s basically the plan for it. There is a print and play version that you can find, but that’s about it. The one way that you can play it is on Board Game Arena. And while I like playing games on board game arena, I also like playing them in person.

How To Play 61 Autumn Leaves

This is a pretty standard, not that complete roll and write game. I say that, but it does give you some interesting choices to make. In this game three dice are rolled and then each player picks one of those dice to activate a section. There are sections numbered one through 6, so the numbers correspond with it.

Then with the two remaining dice the player didn’t use, they pick one of those numbers to put into the section. The sections have different scoring, such as needing to match numbers, not being able to repeat numbers, or being up or down by one from the previous number.

With the final die, players then tally that number into their leftover dice values. You want to hit certain numbers, 11, 21, … 61 to gain bonuses. Then you roll the dice and go again.

The game will end when either twenty rounds have been reached, the number of leaves where you’re keeping track of that final die. Or when someone has passed reached or passed 61 on their leaves. Then players will count up the acorns from each location where they put numbers, bonuses for completing sections, and any bonus acorns from the leaves. The highest acorn value is the winner.

What Doesn’t Work

This game is going to be pretty simple for a lot of people. I like that about the game, which I’ll get to, but there is only so much decision space in the game. And there aren’t really any combos. If you get one of the leaf bonuses from that leftover die it can let you fill in a free spot, but that’s about it. Otherwise it’s just how well you can push down some tracks to score points. And can you outrace other people to them. And I think for a lot of people, they will want more to the game than just that.

What Works

For me, I find that I like the simplicity of this game. I think it’s a charming roll and write game, and compared to other simple roll and write games, it is giving you an option. You need to make two decisions, or really three each turn. What section do you activate, sure that might be limited, but you decide. And then what number do you play in there, again limited but you decide.

It’s also a filler type of game. And sometimes that is used in a bad way to mean light and nothing there. I already talked about how there is a little bit there. But the game is also really fast. And I like that when I play the game, even on BGA, it often plays really quickly. A two player game is able to get knocked out quickly because of how it works. If it were a big combo filled game it wouldn’t offer that.

I appreciate as well how simple the game is to teach. What I wrote above is basically the game. I think that some people might ask a question or two about the scoring sections, but they are generally simple. And I think that it’s one, because of that, and the speed of the game, people see and want to play again.

Who Will Like It?

I think this is a great family accessible roll and write option. Or maybe not great, but one that is very approachable. And the theme, for what it is, being fall, is just a fun simple theme. I like that about it because it isn’t a thing where someone will balk against playing a fantasy game or something like that. This game’s theme is one that appeals to so many people.

Final Thoughts on 61 Autumn Leaves

I enjoy this game a lot. 61 Autumn Leaves is just a fun simple little game. And I like playing it on Board Game Arena. It is a nice game because I can play 61 Autumn Leaves asynchronously and I don’t need to remember a board state. This is the type of the game that works really well there.

That said, and I said it at the beginning, I want a real copy of this. I would love to get a version of this with six sheets, some dry erase markers, and the three dice. It is an easy game that I hope gets turned into a physical product. I even downloaded the image for it so I can print and play it, which is rare for me.

That said, I also think 61 Autumn Leaves is the type of game that can get overplayed. I find that I’m not at that point. And I expect I won’t be at that point for a while. But while there is an interesting range of choices to make, it is simple in what it does. I expect that I will eventually run my course on it, but I also expect it is one I’ll come back to. It’s a roll and write that is easy to teach and play and that is the type of game to consistently hit my table.

My Grade: B-
Gamer Grade: C-
Casual Grade: B+

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