What if…? - Choose the life of your dreams
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Some buy a house, some adopt a dog, some find love. In the end, the winner is the one who built the happiest life, not the richest.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A life simulator where choices matter more than luck
Designed by Basang Bordaev and published by Cosmodrome Games in 2023, What if…? is a board game that simulates life through daily choices and big decisions. The colorful board represents different life paths: adventurer, entrepreneur, careerist. Each character builds their own unique story.
During the game, you choose which die result to use to move around the board, allowing you to plan your moves instead of just reacting. You find love, get promotions (or layoffs), adopt pets, buy a house. You can gain or lose money, but in the end, only one thing matters: the first to reach 50 happiness points wins the game.
What they say abroad
A game that teaches children that happiness cannot be bought with money.
— FroGames
Perfect for opening conversations about what truly matters in life.
— FroGames
What if…?: Choose the life of your dreams
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and game sessionsThe ingredients of happiness
What builds your life
Career
Promotions that increase earnings and happiness. But be careful: you can also be fired and lose happiness points if life takes a turn for the worse.
Love
Meeting your soulmate brings immediate happiness points. One of the most important choices in the game, but you have to land on the right space.
Home
Buying a house costs money but guarantees lasting happiness. It's a long-term investment that can make a difference in the endgame.
Pets
Adopting a dog or cat adds happiness points with no recurring costs. Small joys that accumulate turn after turn.
At the end of the game, you'll discover that the happiest life isn't the one with the most money in the bank. It's the one with the most stories to tell.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Everyone starts from the same point
The characters begin their life journey. Each one chooses a path: some focus on career, some on adventure, some on family. The first dice rolls already show who plans and who relies on luck.
Early choices change everything
Someone immediately finds love. Someone else gets a promotion. A third buys a dog. Each choice brings different happiness points and the board begins to take shape with lives diverging in unexpected directions.
Money is not enough
Mid-game, someone has a lot of money but little happiness. Others are poor but have love, a home, and pets. The game reminds us that the goal is not to get rich, it's to build a satisfying life. Priorities are revealed.
The existential twist
A sudden layoff. A romantic encounter. A house bought at the last minute. Every game has that moment that turns the race around towards 50 happiness points. Those who were behind catch up, those who were ahead slow down.
The happiest life wins
Someone reaches 50 happiness points. The others look at their board and compare the choices they made. The winner is the one who built the most balanced life, not the richest. And often children understand a lesson that adults forget.
How to play
The flow of each turn
A turn is quick: roll, choose, move, experience an event. Then it's the next player's turn.
You roll the game dice. You get multiple possible results to choose from, not an obligatory random move.
You decide which dice result to use to move. This choice allows you to plan which space to land on.
You move your character on the board following the chosen path (career, adventure, family) to the target space.
Perform the action of the space: promotion, romantic encounter, animal adoption, house purchase. You gain or lose money and happiness points. First to 50 happiness wins.
Why it's different from others
Six elements that make a difference
Roll & Move with choice
You don't just suffer the dice roll as in classic games. You choose which result to use from those rolled, transforming luck into planning. A small twist that changes the entire approach to movement.
Happiness as the winning currency
Money is used to buy a house or adopt animals, but it doesn't make you win. The winner is the one who accumulates 50 happiness points, teaching children that wealth and happiness are not the same. A rare lesson in board games.
Multiple life paths
The board offers three different paths: career, adventure, family. Each path leads to unique events and choices. Two players can win by building completely different lives.
Colorful and immediate components
Vibrant graphics, illustrated character boards, clear events. Everything designed to be understood at a glance by children, without needing to read long texts or consult manuals.
Realistic ups and downs
You can be promoted or fired. Find love or stay alone. Buy a house or lose money. The game simulates life's variability without being punitive, always maintaining hope.
Conversations that matter
During the game, parents and children talk about what makes them happy, what is most valuable, how to balance work and private life. The real value is not in the gameplay, it's in the discussions it opens.
How it ends
How you win and how you lose
The game ends when a player reaches 50 happiness points. There is no elimination, but those who fall far behind see others build more complete lives.
Victory
- Be the first to reach 50 happiness points through love, career, home, and pets
- Balance earnings and investments: money is used to buy happiness, but it's not enough on its own
- Wisely choose which die to use to land on the most advantageous spaces at the right time
Falling behind
- Accumulating only money without investing it in experiences that bring happiness
- Suffering negative events (layoffs, losses) without being able to recover points
- Making random movement choices instead of planning the path to the best events
A game that teaches children (and reminds adults) that the happiest life is not the one with the most money, but the one with the most love, adventures, and meaningful choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about What if…?: Choose the life of your dreams
Is it really suitable for 8-year-olds?
Yes, the rules are immediate and the theme is universal. The roll & move with choice is accessible, and children quickly understand that happiness matters more than money. Perfect for family play without leaving anyone behind.
How long does a full game last?
About 30 minutes. The race to 50 happiness points keeps the pace fast, and turns are quick (roll, choose, move, event). Ideal for weeknight evenings or as a second game of the night.
Does it play well with 2 players?
Yes, it works for 2 to 4 players without changes. With 2 players, the competition is more direct; with 3-4, the characters' lives diverge more, creating interesting parallel stories. No number is optimal or penalizing.
Is there player interaction or is it a parallel race?
It is primarily an individual race towards happiness. Interaction is indirect: you compare others' choices, see who invests in what, but you don't directly block or attack. Perfect for children still learning to manage competition.
Is it available in Italian?
This is the English language edition published by Cosmodrome Games. The game uses text on cards and events, so knowledge of English is necessary to play. There is no official Italian edition currently.
What if…?: Choose the life of your dreams is a family board game designed by Basang Bordaev and published by Cosmodrome Games in 2023. For 2-4 players aged 8 and up, with games lasting approximately 30 minutes, the game uses a strategic roll & move system where players choose which dice result to use to move on the board. The goal is to reach 50 happiness points through career, love, home, and pets, teaching that wealth does not equate to happiness. A colorful and accessible life simulator that opens meaningful conversations between parents and children. Available on FroGames.it.
What if…? - Choose the life of your dreams
Frequently Asked Questions
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