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You've found three copies of The Lord of the Rings in three different formats. Now you have to decide: themed shelf or by size? And in the meantime, Penelope has taken the last Murakami.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
The game for those who have always dreamed of tidying the perfect bookshelf
Alex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick have designed a spatial puzzle disguised as a bibliophile simulator. Naomi Lord's illustrations transform stacks of books into desirable objects, with covers that look like they came from an independent bookstore. The game won the Mensa Select award, a recognition given to games that reward applied intelligence without taking themselves too seriously.
Each round, you visit places in the village to collect books, then return home and organize them in the rooms of your apartment. Each completed project gives you points and recharges your energy, which you then spend to go back out and look for more books. The puzzle lies in fitting stacks of different sizes together to complete multiple objectives simultaneously, maximizing every moment of contemplative satisfaction.
What they say abroad
"A cozy puzzler that turns the mundane act of shelving books into something genuinely satisfying"
A cozy puzzler that turns the mundane act of shelving books into something genuinely satisfying
— Meeple Mountain
This is a game for those who love to see order where there was once chaos. Each completed shelf gives that dopamine rush familiar to anyone who spends hours reorganizing their board game collection by publisher, year, BGG weight. It's therapeutic.
— FroGames
A Place for All My Books
You play against Penelope Eveready, an automated opponent who collects books following a dedicated deck of cards. The solo experience is complete and maintains the tension of resource competition, only losing the pleasure of commenting on each other's shelves at the end of the game.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat you find in the box
The materials that make up your bookish apartment
Book Tiles
Stacks of books in different sizes and colors, to fit into the shelves of your rooms. Each book has an illustrated cover that makes each stack recognizable and desirable.
Apartment Boards
Each player has different rooms where they organize books: living room, study, bedroom. Completing specific patterns in each room unlocks projects and recharges energy.
Project Cards
Personal objectives that require specific book configurations. Completing them gives you victory points and that zen satisfaction of bringing order to chaos.
Village Board
The common locations where you collect books: bookstore, used market, library. Simple but crucial placement, because the best books run out quickly.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Nine rounds total. Each round: go to the village, collect books, return home, and organize. When you wish, admire and recharge.
Place your meeples in the locations (bookstore, market, library...) by spending energy. Each location offers different books in terms of shape and color. First come, first served.
Take the book tiles from the chosen location. Each tile has specific dimensions and colors. Keep them in front of you: they are your reserve to organize.
Place the collected books on the shelves of your rooms. Each room has patterns to complete (full rows, specific colors, tall stacks...). Combining multiple objectives is key.
At any time, you can stop and admire your completed shelves: you complete projects, earn points, and recharge energy for the next round. It's the zen moment of the game.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup: everyone chooses their apartment
Distribute the boards, look at the rooms you got, and already imagine where you'll put the fantasy and where the non-fiction. Someone asks if they can keep the mysteries separate. The answer is always yes.
First rounds: the rush for the right books
Everyone sends their meeples to collect books from the locations. Some go straight to the bookstore, others prefer the market. Some already have a plan, some are still figuring out what they need. The first shelves begin to fill up.
Mid-game: the mental Tetris
Now you have piles of books in front of you and you need to fit them together to complete as many projects as possible. You rotate the tiles, try configurations, realize that tall pile doesn't fit where you thought. Someone admires their shelves and recharges energy.
The moment Penelope outsmarts you
In solo mode: Penelope draws her card and takes exactly the three books you needed. In multiplayer: someone completes a big project and suddenly is ten points ahead. Everyone speeds up.
End of game: the finished apartment
Last round, last arrangements. You count the points but first you take a moment to look at your complete apartment: every shelf in its place, every book perfectly fitted. Someone takes a photo. The one with the most points wins, but everyone has built something beautiful.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three things you need to know
The rules are immediate: take books, put them on shelves, complete patterns. The real challenge is fitting everything together to maximize each admiration action. You can always arrange books, but doing it efficiently requires planning. If you expect a brain-burner, you won't find it here: it's a relaxing puzzle with tactical decisions.
You compete for books in common locations, but once collected, everyone builds their own apartment without interfering with others. With four players, it might feel like a shared solitaire game. If you're looking for trading, bluffing, or politics, this isn't the game for you.
Each player has their own apartment board, scattered book tiles, and project cards. With four people, you need a large table, or someone will end up playing standing up. It's not a problem, but it should be considered: this game expands.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
After nine rounds, count victory points from completed projects and bonus configurations. The one with the most wins.
Victory
- You complete the most personal projects (each project is worth variable points)
- You optimize admiration actions to complete multiple objectives simultaneously
- You collect strategic books that fit into multiple patterns at the same time
Defeat
- You waste energy by going to the wrong locations and collecting unneeded books
- You organize shelves without planning, completing one objective at a time instead of optimizing
- You run out of energy too early and miss collecting turns while others advance
This is a game for those who love to see order emerge from chaos, for those who find satisfaction in completing perfect configurations. It's not as competitive as a heavy Eurogame, but the spatial puzzle is solid, and the theme works.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about A Place for All My Books
What mechanics does A Place for All My Books use?
Pattern building (you build specific book configurations on shelves), light worker placement (you place meeples in locations to collect), and resource management (the energy you spend and recharge). The core is the spatial puzzle: fitting different shaped tiles to complete multiple objectives simultaneously.
Does it work well in solo mode against Penelope?
Yes, the solo mode is official and well-balanced. Penelope uses a dedicated deck of cards to collect books and puts real pressure on you. You only lose the pleasure of commenting on other people's apartments at the end of the game, but as a solo puzzle, it holds up very well.
Is it suitable for those who don't like puzzles?
No. This is a puzzle game disguised as a cozy game: if you don't like the idea of optimizing spatial arrangements and completing visual patterns, you'll probably get bored. There's no bluffing, no negotiation, just bibliophile Tetris. If you're looking for direct interaction, look elsewhere.
How long does a game actually last?
With experienced players, 40-50 minutes. The first game can be up to 60 minutes because everyone needs to understand how to optimize admiration actions. Downtime is minimal because many actions are resolved in parallel, but with four players, there might be some waiting.
Is it available in Italian?
This is the English edition. The game has language dependence in the project cards and rules, but the text is minimal and readable even with basic English. If you prefer to wait for an Italian localization, keep an eye on Cranio Creations.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
A Place for All My Books is a puzzle game for 1 to 4 players, 40-60 minutes, ages 10+, designed by Alex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick and published by Cranio Creations and Smirk & Dagger Games. It combines pattern building and light worker placement in a cozy theme dedicated to bibliophiles: collect books in the village, organize them on your apartment shelves, complete personal projects. Includes official solo mode against Penelope Eveready. Winner of the Mensa Select. Available on FroGames.it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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