Holiday Hills
- Designer Chris Porter
- Publisher Chris Couch Games
- Illustration Pretty Useful Co.
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What to Expect
Players guide a human-and-elf duo to decorate Jingle Bell Square for a Winter Festival, moving a sleigh along a track, collecting dice presents and delivering them under trees. You complete objective cards with decoration patterns and dice colours, park at cottages to draw new objectives, and balance finishing first with having more time to score. The board is double-sided with Nice and Naughty modes for variation.
Who Is This Game For?
Holiday Hills targets families and light-to-medium gamers aged 10+. With 2–5 players and about 60 minutes playtime, it fits a typical game night. Familiarity with dice-based mechanics helps but isn't required.
How It Works
Each turn you push your sleigh along the top or bottom path (Track Movement), pick up dice presents (Dice Rolling), and park on action spaces to perform actions (Worker Placement-like choices). You place decorations under trees to pursue Area Majority scoring and fulfil Objective Cards for End Game Bonuses. Pick-up and Deliver elements and movement along the track create multiple paths to score.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Chris Porter, Holiday Hills mixes tactile 3D wooden components with dice-driven strategy and Area Majority scoring. The dual-sided board (Nice/Naughty) provides two distinct modes. The theme focuses on Holidays/Christmas and the title is associated with Kickstarter crowdfunding in its families data.
Pro
- Blend of Dice Rolling, Area Majority and Pick-up-and-Deliver
- Double-sided board offers two play modes (Nice/Naughty)
- Suitable for 2–5 players and ~60 minutes
- Tactile 3D wooden components support the theme
Contra
- No solo mode (players 2–5)
- Multiple mechanics can require explanation time for newcomers
Setting & atmosphere
The game is set in a snowy town square (Jingle Bell Square) during the Winter Festival, centred on sleighs, tree decorations and festive deliveries. The holiday/Christmas theme is explicit in the data.
Tips for beginners
Focus on a few objective cards early and use cottages to refresh objectives; balance moving quickly with time needed to complete area-majority goals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
No. The stated player count is 2–5, so no solo mode is listed.
How long does a game really take?
The duration is listed at about 60 minutes; expect slightly longer playtime for first sessions.
What prior experience do I need?
Basic experience with dice-driven decisions and simple area-control mechanics is helpful but not required.
How does this compare to similar games?
Holiday Hills combines Dice Rolling with Area Majority and Pick-up-and-Deliver in a festive theme and offers two board modes (Nice/Naughty).
Is this suitable for families?
Yes. Minimum age is 10 and the game blends family-friendly theme with accessible mechanics.
What mechanic makes it special?
The interplay of Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence and Pick-up-and-Deliver defines the game's core.
Fazit
Holiday Hills is a good pick for groups seeking a thematic, dice-based family strategy for 2–5 players; it balances accessibility with tactical depth. Pure expert gamers may find it lighter than hardcore euros.
