Sanity Test for Foramina!

87/100
Final Score
Well-written, crystal-clear rules. Great colors, intriguing images, balance strategy and dice rolls.
Completed August 11, 2022 by Courtney

Rules 69/80

Structure 7/9

The only thing missing was a clear overview or objective. Other than that, everything is in order.

Requirements 3/3

Clearly listed, but not the same as the shop page. (1-4 vs 2-4 players)

Introduction 2/3

For someone who just read the shop page, I would love to see some variety. This intro is good here, I would rather see more info about the gameplay on the shop page.
I don't know what CN II and CN VIII are, and that makes me feel like I'm not right for this game, which could be a real turnoff for some players. I understand that it's a cute way to say that you have a video how-to-play video, but just know that you are excluding people by using technical terms and not explaining them.
Please put a pronunciation guide for "Foramen" and "Foramina." I read them wrong the whole way through until I watched your video.

Overview 0/3

Missing, as far as I can tell. There should be a clear "here's how you win" statement with a heading all its own.

Component List 5/5

Very clear, images of everything, and counts included. Well done.

Component Pictures 3/3

Great graphics. Thank you for showing the fronts AND the backs. That speeds setup when your players don't have to stop and guess which deck is which.
Great diagrams to explain the parts of each card as well.

Setup 10/10

Well-written and very clear.

Setup Pictures 7/7

Great image, good labels. Thank you for taking an entire page instead of trying to squeeze it in somewhere too small to save space.

Game Play 10/15

If I have to give axons to more than one player, is there a correct order to do so, in case I run out in the middle? Could there be a case where players owe each other on the same turn? What if one person doesn't have enough?
Once a formen card is purchased, are any icons on it now "showing?" In the example on p13, would the light blue, orange, and brown icons be activated in a case like the Facial card?
I realize these questions may not come up in gameplay, but not having the cards in front of me, these are questions I have.

Game Play Pictures 7/7

All the examples are very clear and well-placed.

End Point 6/6

Very clear, no tie breaker needed.

Overall Comprehension 4/4

Exceptionally well-written. Very few minor questions about gameplay, that may never actually happen, depending on what the card powers are.

Clarity 3/3

Grammar, spelling, and all that technical stuff is clear and well-written.

Presentation 2/2

The brown colors were slightly boring for my taste, especially compared to all the other bright colors in the game. It works though, and is probably better off being a neutral color anyway.
The dark brown under the examples may be ever-so-slightly too dark, as it starts to be quite similar to the cards, but it still works.
Please add page numbers though. Even if you don't refer to them anywhere, it will help your players remember where details are.

Shop Presentation 18/20

Ad 2/3

If nothing else, I'm going to click to see if that really IS an eyeball in the o. Spoiler: Yes, it is. :)

Backdrop 1/1

Nice crisp image of all the components--Great colors, nice layout, solid, non-distracting background. I'm not sure if it's on purpose or not, but I zeroed in on the blue guy laying down almost immediately. It does not look intentional, so if that was your goal, may want to rethink.

Logo 1/1

Love the bright colors and the intriguing shapes, and the white border makes it just right against the colorful backdrop.

Action Shots 5/5

Great variety. Multiple shots of the components, the layout, and of people playing the game. The component shots are framed very well with the solid black background. The people all look like they're having a great time, and the second to last photo made me chuckle out loud.

Description 4/5

Good humor, pulls me in and gets me interested. I'd love a little bit about gameplay. Tel me what kind of game it is. What mechanisms does it use? Do I have to be super smart or a biologist to play this game?
One tiny thing I would appreciate as well is to have a pronunciation of "Foramina." I learned how to pronounce it from the video, but it would've been nice to not have been reading it incorrectly until then.

Video 5/5

Good information, colorful, smooth actions, everything makes sense.


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