# of Players: 2-4
Time: 30 Minutes
Age:6+
Game Type: Casual/Family
Gamer Type: All
Complexity: 3
On Pointe: A Dancer’s Journey is a Game Aimed at Female Gamers
As the review of Monarch noted, there are few games on the market directed toward female gamers. This statement is doubly true when it comes to games for children and teens. Most games directed at female players are “toddler” games, so this is a very weak market. This state of affairs is sad because female gamers make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the market. On Pointe: a Dancer’s Journey by Analog Games is a forward-thinking game that gives young female gamers and dancers something to play in an area that will interest many of them, ballet.
Story
The story of the game is that you are an aspiring dancer working your way through the stages of becoming a great ballet dancer. You start learning at the barre. You then progress through rehearsals and company dancing until you hit the big stage. Once there, you try to pull off amazing moves, become the prima ballerina, and the winner is the first player to reach her/his dream. Along the way players collect tokens of their experiences as they try to become the best, the ballet world has to offer. The story is strong for a game that is playable by young players, earning Analog Studios a 7 of 10 for the story.
Artwork
The artwork for On Pointe is well… on point. The art really draws the player into the game with a stage set up that has the pleasures and pitfalls of theater. The dancers, the tokens, the gems, and the crown all look amazing as players navigate their way through the game. The one knock is a printed tiara may have been more effective as the prima ballerina could wear it in front of the other players. This earns a very strong 7.5 out of 10 for artwork.
Mechanics
The mechanics of On Pointe: A Dancer’s Journey are more complex than most simple games in this category. Players draft cards with movements on them which tell them where to go. As they move through the game, they must move exactly the number of spaces indicated on the card in a single maneuver. This can result in some interesting choices! There is also a token-based system of points and a token-based system of “specials.” Analog showed they knew what they were doing when they made these tokens unique enough so there was no confusion. The board also has obstacles the dancers must move around to reach the end. The mechanics work well together other than the curtains. They make it difficult for a player at the end of the board to see. Still, the mechanics earn this game a score of 6 out of 10.
Strategy
The strategy of this game is interesting. Since the tokens are static, there is no engine building. There is also not really a zerg rush approach as you only have one player token. This leaves a very strong offensive and defensive strategy for the game. Players can try to grab everything or they can play it slow and block other players. On Pointe: A Dancer’s Journey has good strategy for a casual game, earning a 4 out of 10 for strategy.
Novelty
This game is very novel, as I noted above. This is a good game for young women and dancers who want to enter into the gaming field to do something that they may enjoy. This earns the game a score of 7.5 of 10 for the novelty. Overall, this game is a very good entry-level game for the field. It introduces people to gaming in a fun way, with a topic that you do not see very often. This earns the game an overall score of 32 out of 50.
An Great Game Good for Any Player
If you have a young gamer who loves dance, this is a great family-friendly game that will allow you hours of fun and let your child (or your friends) explore the world of gaming on their own terms. On Pointe: A Dancer’s Journey could also be a great novelty addition to the gaming collection of any gamer.
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