A Song of This Town is My Town, This Town is Your Town

Travel to the Old West on an adventure of town-building and exploration in the Graphic Novel Adventure, Your Town.
There was just one more Graphic Novel Adventure from season one I needed to try out. Your Town is an interesting concept, particularly since it involves plenty of bookkeeping! I wasn’t sure what to expect with it, but I definitely wanted to explore the setting. So saddle on up, put on your best imaginary cowboy hat, and ride off into the sunset!
Game Overview
Game Name: Your Town
Publication Year: 2016
Designer: Shuky
Artist: Uncredited
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Whereas most gamebooks have minimal bookkeeping, this one is focused on building up a town. Literally! Each type of building is designed to be drawn on the map.
There are also other values to track, like population and food. On top of it all, there’s a whole world to explore!
Tiny, Tiny Rules Text
I assume the goal was to keep the rules in a small section for easy reference. However, the size of this text is even smaller than it might appear here! I had a little trouble.
There are a lot of rules, though they’re not particularly difficult. It all boils down to tracking plenty of values.
Part of me was excited about this concept. Yet at the same time, I felt reluctant to track so much information. How necessary was it? And how would it affect the adventure?
Still, I wasn’t about to pass judgment on something I had never tried out. Confident with the rules, off I went.
The Trouble with Excessive Bookkeeping
I’m a big fan of tracking specific details for various board games. Even roleplaying games that require a lot of upkeep can work out nicely! But I was immediately overwhelmed. I had to track my finances, monthly income, jobs, specific types of citizens, safety, bullets, puzzles, and the passage of time… Among other things. That’s a lot!
As I started to get through the adventure, I was immediately reminded of another underplayed solo game in my collection. Penciltown has a lot of bookkeeping and a similar building grid system. But despite its handful of flaws, it never feels excessively complicated. And I really should return to it very soon. My town is only partway completed!
Troublesome Shooting
The adventure seemed interesting, even though I wasted several months getting nowhere out in the desert.
Then, I encountered my first enemy. The combat system almost made me groan. I would have been fine with rolling dice or drawing cards. This… Definitely was not ideal.
“Hold your pencil approximately 6 inches high and drop it over your enemy.” That’s right: A dexterity challenge?!
As expected, I failed miserably. The gamebook doesn’t lay flat, so it’s not like there’s even a truly fair chance. I was baffled over this design decision. It just felt odd.
Session Overview
Play Number: 1
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Play Details: Level 1 Goal
Required Play Space: 22″ x 18″
Setup Time: 5 Minutes
Play Time: 30 Minutes
Outcome: 0 Points (Loss)
I made it about halfway through and thought I was doing well. Then, I was eaten by a bear. It didn’t come out of nowhere, yet I was baffled because I thought I made a deal not to hurt any animals… Yikes. Not a pleasant ending!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
5
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
3
Originality
Design & Theme
6
Quality
Components & Rules
3
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
5
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
4
Continue the Conversation
What are your thoughts about Your Town? I was intrigued by the bookkeeping system, yet I’m not sure how well it meshes with a Graphic Novel Adventure. Are there any solo board games with lots of upkeep you enjoy? I’m still planning to return for another attempt, particularly since I saw some glimmers of enjoyment. Just… No more bears! Ha!
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