Fresco

To set up Fresco, first unfold the main game board, which has different sides for varying player counts (3 or 4 players). Randomly place the 25 fresco tiles face-down onto the designated spaces on the cathedral section of the board. Each player receives a player screen, an action board, five large worker pawns, and two small worker pawns in their chosen color. Distribute the paint cubes (red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple) into their respective areas on the board. Place the money tokens (Thalers) in a general supply. The Bishop pawn is placed in the center fresco tile. Each player also receives a starting amount of money and a set of primary paint cubes behind their player screen.

The primary objective in Fresco is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the game. Players achieve this by strategically restoring sections of the cathedral's fresco, which requires specific combinations of paint colors. Additional points can be earned by painting portraits, having leftover money, and maintaining high worker morale. The game encourages forward planning and adaptation to opponents' actions.

A round in Fresco begins with players secretly choosing their wake-up time (5 AM, 6 AM, 7 AM, 8 AM, or 9 AM) behind their player screens. This choice determines turn order for market actions and affects worker morale. Earlier wake-up times grant first choice at the market but decrease morale, while later times improve morale but offer fewer market options. After wake-up times are revealed, players assign their five large worker pawns to various action spaces on their individual action boards, such as buying paint, mixing colors, restoring fresco sections, or visiting the theater. Actions are resolved in a specific order across all players: market actions first, then restoration, then mixing, and finally theater visits.

Victory points are primarily awarded for restoring fresco sections. Each fresco tile has a point value, and players earn these points immediately upon restoration. If the Bishop pawn is on a fresco section when it is restored, the player receives bonus points. Players can also earn points by painting portraits, which are separate from the main fresco. At the end of the game, remaining money is converted into victory points (typically 1 point per 2 Thalers), and bonuses may be awarded for having a diverse collection of restored fresco sections or for achieving certain objectives from expansion modules if used.

The game concludes after a certain number of fresco tiles have been restored, typically when a specified number of rows or columns are completed. Once this condition is met, the current round is finished, and one final round is played. During this final round, players use the 'side 2' of their action boards, which may offer slightly different action benefits. After the final round, players calculate their total victory points from restored frescoes, painted portraits, remaining money, and any other end-game bonuses. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner.