Setup

1. Print the Game Sheet: Each player needs a copy of the Jujuman game sheet, which can be downloaded and printed from the game’s official Kickstarter page.
2. Gather Writing Instruments: Ensure players have a pen or pencil to record their progress on the game sheet.
3. Prepare Dice: To play the game, you’ll need three standard six-sided dice (d6). Having multiple dice per player can expedite gameplay if you’re playing with multiple players.
4. Set Up the Timer: While not mandatory, using a timer can add an element of urgency. Decide on a time limit for each turn or the entire game, based on group preference.

Gameplay:

Rolling the Die: On your turn, roll the six-sided dice. The result determines the action you can take, as outlined on the game sheet.

Taking Actions: Depending on the die roll, you can perform actions such as:

1. Crafting Potions: You can craft potions by using one, two, or all of the dice rolled. Adding or subtracting the values, you can write the number on your player sheet by using standard sudoku rules of never repeating the same number in any row or column.
2. Gathering Ingredients: The dice that you will not use will allow you to move around the map and collect various ingredients required for potion crafting.

End of the Game:

The game concludes after three rows of different colors are compleated or when a specific condition, as defined in the game rules, is met.

Scoring: Tally your points based on the potions crafted in the rightmost position in any row, the same type of potion fulfilled, and any other criteria specified on the game sheet.

Determine the Winner: The player with the highest score is declared the winner. In solo play, compare your score against the provided benchmarks to assess your performance. Here is our video review of the game in which we explain the game in detail:

The post Jujuman – Video Review to Your Roll-and-Write Adventure appeared first on Board Games Land.

When we first saw The White Castle, we thought it was a board game like the The Red Cathedral, and it was. We had just finished playing it and already warmed up, so we got straight into it. If you’re someone who likes the Red Cathedral, this one is a must-have trust. While its humble box may not command immediate attention, its contents reveal a sophisticated blend of calculated risk and opportunity. Each element feels purposeful – from carefully cultivating garden spaces to the calculated positioning of clan members throughout the castle’s hierarchical structure.

Component Quality

The game comes impressively equipped with a main board, individual player boards, dozens of custom dice in three colors, cardboard resource tokens, cardboard coins, cardboard Daimyo Seals, and three distinct deck types—Steward, Diplomat, and powerful Daimyo cards. The component quality is generally high, though the cardboard tokens for tracking resources could have been more substantial. The rulebook provides clear examples and reference sheets. However, new players might need a full practice round to grasp the interaction between different game elements.

Technical Specifications & Setup

The White Castle accommodates 1-4 players, though our experience shows it truly excels with 2-3 players, where turns flow smoothly and downtime remains minimal.

Setup takes about 15-20 minutes for first-time players and requires a medium-sized table space. The game presents a moderate complexity level—while the basic actions are straightforward, mastering the intricate timing of resource conversion and position optimization typically takes 2 to 3 plays. A full game runs 60-90 minutes and consists of three rounds with three turns each.

Mechanics & Resources

This Board game has a simple dice system that belies its tactical possibilities. Each round presents players with colored dice arranged on bridges, creating a visually striking display of options. This system is great because it forces constant economic calculations, like placing a die, which requires paying the difference between its value and the target space. Watching players agonize over grabbing that white six, knowing they’ll need to shell out precious coins to place it in a lower-numbered spot, reveals the system’s tension.

Beyond dice placement, you’ll juggle three vital resources: iron for military might, food to sustain your influence, and mother-of-pearl for crafting luxuries. Each maxes out at seven units, making timing crucial – hoard too early, and you’ll waste potential gains; wait too long, and you might miss key opportunities. The Daimyo Seals add another layer, serving as a political currency that opens doors to the castle’s most prestigious positions.

Advancement in The White Castle

The castle’s social hierarchy forms the beating heart of gameplay. Each level represents a new threshold of influence, where positioning your clan members demands foresight and careful timing. We were captivated by the layered decision-making – do you rush to claim valuable positions early or build a stronger economic foundation first?

During our numerous sessions, each gaming circle developed distinct approaches. Our Sunday night group mastered the art of resource conversion, turning modest beginnings into powerful late-game positions. Meanwhile, our weekend players excelled at reading the ever-changing castle dynamics, capitalizing on moments when others left crucial positions exposed.

What We Don’t Like

Several issues warrant mention. The color coding system, particularly between room colors and dice placement restrictions, can be confusing for newcomers. The rulebook could better explain the relationship between different action types (Courtier, Warrior, and Gardener). While good for replayability, setup variability can sometimes create unbalanced starting positions. The game also suffers from occasional analysis paralysis, especially when players are determining optimal dice placement combinations. The storage solution could be better—while the box is compact, fitting everything back requires careful organization. Another thing we struggled with is making the bridges, the cardboard was too soft and floppy.

Gameplay Flow

Nine turns might seem restrictive at first glance, but this limitation transforms each action into a crucial choice. We’ve seen players agonizing over straightforward decisions, knowing that one misplaced die could derail their entire strategy. The game shines brightest when players must adapt to unexpected situations – a skill we saw tested repeatedly across our sessions.

An intense match we had was when Goce’s masterful manipulation of the garden spaces seemed unbeatable until Tome’s surprising late-game courtier advancement completely shifted the power dynamic. The final round saw all players scrambling to adjust their plans. It led to a scary finish where victory was decided by a single well-timed dice placement.

Value & Market Position

Retailing around $40-50, The White Castle sits comfortably in the mid-tier price range for strategy games. Given the metal coins, custom dice, and overall production value, it offers fair value for its price point. Fans of The Red Cathedral will find familiar territory here. Both games share DNA in their dice-placement mechanics and resource conversion. However, The White Castle leans more heavily into positional play and political maneuvering. While Red Cathedral focuses on building construction, this game’s emphasis on character advancement and multi-level scoring creates a distinctly different experience.

Our Final Thoughts on The White Castle

The White Castle proves that innovation doesn’t require complexity. The things that will catch your eye is transforming simple mechanisms into compelling choices that matter until the final turn. While the game presents certain hurdles for newcomers, particularly in understanding its various interconnected systems, the satisfaction of executing a well-planned strategy more than compensates.

Sheila Santos and Israel Cendrero have outdone themselves here, crafting a game that feels distinctly different from their previous work while maintaining their signature attention to detail. Devir‘s production choices, mainly the metal coins and custom dice bridges, demonstrate their commitment to quality, though we wish they’d opted for more substantial resource-tracking tokens.

This game’s ability to create tension with just nine turns sets it apart. Every dice selection feels consequential, and every resource spent could be the difference between victory and defeat. The multi-layered scoring system, combining immediate rewards with long-term positioning, creates engaging puzzles that reveal new nuances even after dozens of plays.

This clever design has earned its place among our most frequently requested titles, particularly with players who appreciate games that reward tactical thinking and adaptability. Despite some minor component issues, The White Castle delivers a consistently captivating exploration of feudal Japanese politics that keeps us coming back to uncover new strategies and approaches. For those seeking a medium-weight Euro game that plays in under 90 minutes while offering rich decisions and multiple paths to victory, The White Castle is one of 2023’s most impressive offerings.

The post Schemes, Secrets & Dice – The White Castle Board Game Review appeared first on Board Games Land.

Setup

• Salah cards: Place the Salah cards in the center of the playing area. Ensure all players have access to the various decks and components.
• Place the round marker on the first Salah card.

• Player Selection: Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player pieces.

• Card Preparation: Shuffle the cards of any other decks as instructed in the rulebook. Please place them in their designated spots on the board.

• Starting Resources: Distribute any starting resources or tokens to players as specified in the game instructions.

• Determine First Player: Decide who will take the first turn, either randomly or by a method suggested in the rulebook.

How to Play

    Collecting Cards: Players move their pieces on the board to collect cards, which represent the five daily prayers.

    Performing Salah: To perform a Salah, players strategically discard the required combination of cards. Performing prayers on time and with Khusyu grants additional points.

    Event Cards: Be mindful of Event cards that can either aid or hinder your progress. These add an element of unpredictability to the game.

    Advanced Mode: For a more in-depth experience, the game offers an advanced mode. This includes Musafir cards that allow combining prayers, Sunnah prayer cards for bonus scoring, and special movement rules.

    Winning the Game: The game continues until a set condition is met, such as completing all five prayers. The player with the most points at the end is declared the winner.

Usolli combines strategic gameplay with educational elements, making it both engaging and informative for players interested in learning about Salah. For more detailed insight into the game follow our video review here:

Why Play Usolli?

✔ A Fresh, Meaningful Theme – The game uniquely captures an important aspect of Islamic practice in a fun and accessible way.
✔ Strategic & Replayable – With simple mechanics yet deep decision-making, Usolli appeals to both casual and experienced players.
✔ Family-Friendly – Easy to learn, quick to play, and enjoyable for a wide range of ages.
✔ Visually Stunning – Features beautiful hand-drawn artwork, enhancing the immersive experience.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking for a game that reinforces the significance of Salah in an engaging way or simply enjoy clever, well-balanced board games, Usolli is a must-try. With its Kickstarter launch on February 20, 2025, now is the perfect time to back this innovative and meaningful game!

The post Usolli Board Game Review – A Strategic & Faith-Inspired Experience! appeared first on Board Games Land.

Companion Quest tells the tale of resourceful gnomes pursuing the troublemaking Gu’Gu, who’s wreaking havoc by opening dimensional portals across the land. The narrative seamlessly weaves through the gameplay, making each session feel like a storybook adventure coming to life.

Components and Table Presence

The production quality of Companion Quest immediately impresses with its premium components. The game includes:

• A sturdy, well-illustrated main board
• High-quality custom Energy Cube dice
• Detailed miniatures for both gnomes and Gu’Gu
• Thick cardboard tokens and cards with consistent art direction
• Clear, easy-to-read iconography throughout

While the game’s color-coding system generally works well, one minor production note centers around the lighting-dependent visibility of certain dice colors. During our evening gaming sessions, particularly under warm lighting, we occasionally double-checked the board references to confirm dice colors. However, this became a non-issue once players familiarized themselves with the dice positions on the board.

Gameplay

Companion Quest’s core gameplay loop weaves three distinct mechanisms that create a compelling cooperative experience. The Energy Cube management system sits at the heart of the game, where players spend limited energy points to collect colored dice from various themed environments. Managing your collection of 2-3 dice creates tight decisions as you weigh each die’s potential against your team’s immediate needs.

The Quest system forms the backbone of your adventure, offering clear objectives while maintaining a bit of strategy. Players advance along quest paths by matching specific dice requirements, tracked by a Gnome Hat token. Each quest introduces unique rule modifications that persist until completion, such as restricting particular companion abilities or providing temporary bonuses. Combined with shared rewards, these variations foster genuine cooperation rather than parallel play.

The Mischief Meter brilliantly transforms a simple racing element into a dynamic push-and-pull between players and Gu’Gu. This clever implementation serves as a timer and victory track, creating palpable tension throughout the game. Successfully completing objectives moves you closer to catching Gu’Gu, while failing to solve enough portal problems allows the troublemaker to slip further away.

The interplay between these core mechanisms creates an easy-to-grasp gameplay experience that’s difficult to master. Players must constantly balance solving immediate portal problems with long-term quest completion while managing their limited resources. This intricate dance of priorities keeps everyone engaged and invested in each player’s turn.

Scaling Complexity

One of Companion Quest’s strongest features is its adjustable difficulty system:

“Frolickin’ Fun” – Perfect for families and newcomers

“Epic Adventure” – Balanced challenge for most groups

“Tough Trek” – Provides genuine challenge for experienced gamers

“Perilous Path” – A chaos mode for those seeking maximum challenge

The game scales remarkably well across player counts, with clever adjustments to maintain balance whether playing solo or with an entire group of four.

A Session of Ours

We had a nail-biting situation during one game with our family group. Playing as a team of three, our youngest player rolled precisely what we needed – a purple odd number and a blue even number – with Gu’Gu just steps away from the final portal. Through strategic use of companion abilities and well-timed snack tokens, we completed both a quest and solved two portal problems rapidly, forcing Gu’Gu to retreat just enough for our victory. The shared excitement perfectly exemplified why this game resonates so well with families.

Solo Adventure

Companion Quest shines as a solo adventure, offering a refined version of the multiplayer experience that never feels like a compromised afterthought. The clever adjustments to the base rules – including modified quest rewards and enhanced gnome abilities – create a challenging puzzle that maintains the spirit of cooperation even when playing alone. During our numerous solo sessions, we discovered that this mode helps master the game’s nuances, making it an excellent way to learn the finer points of timing and dice optimization. The satisfaction of outmaneuvering Gu’Gu single-handedly provides a distinct thrill that differs significantly from the group experience but proves equally rewarding.

Pros:

• Top-notch components and beautiful artwork that bring the world to life
• Simple rules that reveal deeper strategy as you play
• Plays smoothly whether you’re solo or with a whole team of four
• Four difficulty levels let you tailor the experience to your group
• Turns flow naturally without getting bogged down in analysis
• Clever design prevents any single player from dominating decisions
• The thoughtfully designed single-player mode that’s actually fun
• Different quests and companions ensure no two games feel the same

Cons:

• First-time setup takes 10-15 minutes (though it gets faster with practice)
• Color differentiation can be challenging in suboptimal lighting conditions
• After many plays, some quest combinations can feel familiar

Final Thoughts

Companion Quest creates an inclusive, cooperative adventure that appeals to families and experienced gamers. Its blend of luck, skill, and teamwork creates genuine excitement while maintaining accessibility. The variable difficulty settings ensure longevity, while the charming theme and artwork make it a welcoming addition to any game collection.

The game particularly shines in its ability to create memorable moments of collaborative triumph without becoming overwhelming or frustrating. Whether you’re a parent looking for quality family time or a group of friends seeking a light but engaging cooperative challenge, Companion Quest delivers a thoroughly enjoyable experience that keeps drawing players back to the table.

Who Should Buy This?

• Families looking for a cooperative game that grows with their skills
• Groups who enjoy dice manipulation mechanics but want meaningful choices
• Solo gamers seeking a challenging but fair experience
• Anyone who appreciates substantial production value and replayability

Who Might Want to Skip?

• Players who strongly dislike any randomness in their games
• Those seeking a heavily competitive experience
• Groups looking for complex, heavy strategy games

This is an excellent value, especially considering the replayability. Mark McIntyre and Ghostfire Gaming have delivered what we think is their best family-weight design to date, and it’s earned its permanent place in our collection. Whether you’re new to modern board games or an old board game enthusiast, Companion Quest offers something unique that will surprise and delight you for many game nights.

The post Companion Quest Review – The Best cooperative of 2025? appeared first on Board Games Land.

We’ve had the pleasure of bringing Rattus Big Box to our table dozens of times over the past few months, playing with various player counts and combinations of expansions. We’ve found a game that masterfully balances accessibility with strategic depth, creating an experience that works equally well as a family board game or a gamer’s board game, depending on how you configure it.

Components and Production

The Big Box edition comes packed with high-quality components. The board depicting Europe and Northern Africa is clear and functional, with territory boundaries that are easy to distinguish. The population markers are shaped like medieval citizen busts rather than simple cubes, adding a nice thematic touch. The rat tokens are thick and sturdy, and the various cards have good cardstock quality.

The Pied Piper module adds a mystical twist to the game with its own set of unique components. It includes the Pied Piper class card, allowing players to manipulate both their citizens and the movement of rat tokens across the board. This expansion also comes with new class cards, featuring additional medieval characters such as the Queen, Emperor, Bishop, and Nun, each bringing their own strategy.

Additionally, the module includes 30 Potion tokens, used by the Wizard class to protect citizens from the plague, and various upgrade tiles to enhance existing abilities.

The Africanus Cards module introduces 68 beautifully illustrated region cards, each depicting a named territory and either two different class symbols or special bonuses. This expansion also includes 4 Islamic class cards that add variety to the base game’s class selection.

The Academicus and Upgrades module comes with 27 upgrade tiles (corresponding to each class card except the Alchemist), 30 victory point/university tokens, and 2 University pieces (one green and one white).

The Guilds and Inns module adds 2 additional game boards to complement the main board, along with specialized components like 3 Wall pieces for the Emperor class card, 2 Bishop pieces, 3 Nun pieces, 30 Potion tokens for the Wizard card, 15 Diplomat podiums for the Sultan card, and 1 Caravan piece for the Caravanner card. The module also includes 30 Event cards, consisting of 7 University founded cards, 14 Class Bonus cards (two for each class), 3 Discard cards, and 6 No Event cards.

Published by Z-Man Games, the artwork by Denis Martynets is good, we’ve heard a lot of harsh comments on the artwork, some saying that it is too basic and plain, but that depends on the person you are, we enjoy both simplicity and ultimate artistry. It captures the grim yet somehow whimsical nature of the theme.

Core Gameplay

Rattus is an area-majority game with a clever push-your-luck element. Players compete to maintain the most considerable population across the map while dealing with the ever-present threat of the plague.

The basic turn structure is simple: place population, optionally take a class card, place population markers, and move the plague marker.

The genius of the design lies in the class card system. These cards grant potent abilities and make you more vulnerable to the plague’s effects. It creates a constant tension, will you grab more powers and risk more significant losses, or play it safe with fewer abilities but more security? This risk-reward mechanism drives much of the strategic decision-making.

Safe Haven Mechanics

A unique feature of Rattus is the Safe Haven area on the board, which offers a strategic sanctuary for your citizens. When particular class abilities allow it, you can move your population to this protected zone where they’re immune to the plague’s effects. However, this safety comes with opportunity costs, like citizens in the Safe Haven can’t help you control territories or benefit from most class card abilities. We’ve had games where careful use of the Safe Haven made the difference between victory and defeat.

Expansions and Modules

The Big Box shows its interconnected modules that can be mixed and matched:

Base Game Foundation

The core experience centers around population management and the class card system. Even with the base game, you can access six fundamental classes that create engaging interactions.

Pied Piper Module

The Pied Piper module introduces a unique movement mechanism that forces strategic decision-making. This expansion allows players to shift one of their citizens from one region to a neighboring region while compelling the movement of as many rat tokens as possible from the original region to the new one. Each class card has a unique ability which will be activated with unique components.

Africanus Module

The region cards from this expansion add a clever defensive layer. For example, in one game, a player used a region card showing the Church symbol to protect their Monk card just as a devastating plague was about to hit their largest population center. These cards can also score bonus points at the game end, adding another strategic consideration.

Academicus Integration

The Universities and Upgrades system allows players to enhance their class cards through multiple levels. We’ve seen fascinating combinations where a Level III Merchant card combined with the region card protection from Africanus created powerful synergies.

Guilds & Inns Innovation

This new module adds parallel boards that interact with the main game. The Guild spaces provide bonus actions, while the Inns offer population placement advantages. In one memorable game, control of the Inns board allowed a trailing player to stage a remarkable comeback by maximizing their population placement efficiency.

Module Interactions in Action

In our recent six-player game, we witnessed the full potential of combining modules. Tome controlled the Universities, upgrading his Knight card to Level III for enhanced movement. Angelina used region cards to protect her key class cards while establishing a strong presence in the Guilds. The turning point came when Alexander, who had been quietly building a presence in multiple Inns, combined his Inn placement bonus with an upgraded Merchant card to rapidly expand his population across three regions in a single turn. The interplay between these systems created fascinating decision points throughout the game.

Strategic Depth

Despite its straightforward rules, Rattus offers numerous paths to victory. We’ve seen successful strategies ranging from aggressive expansion with multiple class cards to more conservative approaches focusing on positioning and plague avoidance. The tactical considerations of when to move the plague marker and how to use class abilities create engaging decisions throughout.

The timing of when to take or give up class cards proves crucial. In one game, a player dominated the early game with four class cards but became highly vulnerable to plague outbreaks in the late game, ultimately finishing last. Learning when to shed powerful abilities for safety is key to mastering the game.

Player Count Considerations

We’ve discovered how Rattus adapts to various player counts through testing across different group sizes. While functional with two players, the experience feels more like a tactical duel with limited interaction opportunities. The sweet spot emerges with 4-5 players, where the plague mechanics create maximum tension and territory control becomes increasingly critical. At six players, the game transforms into a chaotic but entertaining struggle for survival, though players should expect more extended playtime due to increased plague evaluations and more complex territory disputes.

Different player counts also affect module selection. For instance, the Guilds & Inns boards shine with 4+ players, creating compelling competition for bonus actions. Meanwhile, the Universities module works surprisingly well even at lower player counts, offering meaningful upgrade paths regardless of player number. Region cards from Africanus become increasingly tactical with more players, as protection against the plague becomes more valuable in crowded territories.

Learning Curve and Teaching

One of Rattus’s strengths is its accessibility. The base game can be taught in 5 minutes, with players usually grasping the core concepts by the end of their first game. The modular nature of the expansions means you can gradually introduce more complexity as players become comfortable with the basics.

Production Quibbles

While the production is generally excellent, we do have some minor complaints. The rat tokens can sometimes be complex to distinguish when face-down, and the territory boundaries in some regions could be more precise. The rulebook, while comprehensive, could benefit from more examples of card interactions. Also to mention again that it has some simple illustrations on it, so if you’re a very artistically complicated board game player maybe this isn’t for you.

Replayability

With over 30 class cards and multiple expansion modules, Rattus Big Box offers tremendous replayability. Each combination of class cards creates a different strategy, and the various modules can dramatically change how the game feels. We’ve played dozens of times and still haven’t explored all possible combinations.

Conclusion

Look, Rattus is a board game which has been around for some time, and we of course had some good expectations for the big box, and not like it didn’t amaze us, but we were expecting bit more for a 2023 board game. To be fair, this is a family board game and of course we can’t talk about the stuff that it doesn’t have, by this we mean that it is a simple board game and doesn’t need too much of everything. Again, the base game still keeps its mechanics with no changes, and that’s the point of it.

When talking about the expansions, not that the expansions aren’t good, just way to simple and they don’t change the gameplay much. We would proudly recommend this Rattus big box for new board gamers, the base gameplay is easy, then you can progress thru the expansions little by little.

While not perfect – some may find the theme a bit dark, and the plague mechanism can occasionally feel punishing – these are minor quibbles in an excellent package.

That said, this isn’t a game for everyone. If you dislike having carefully laid plans disrupted by plague outbreaks, or prefer perfect information games, Rattus might frustrate you. However, we’d argue that this uncertainty creates the game’s most memorable moments. The game truly excels at 4-5 players, where the political dynamics of class cards create delicious tensions.

Pros:

• Module Integration – Seamless combination of expansions
• Strategy- Multiple viable paths to victory
• Accessibility – Easy to learn, hard to master
• Tactical Options – Rich decision space
• Component Quality – Particularly the new citizen markers

Cons:

• Rules Clarity – Some module interactions need a better explanation
• Player Count Balance – Sweet spot limits group size options
• Random Element Impact – Can occasionally override strategy

The post A Plague Tale Worth Telling: Rattus Big Box Review appeared first on Board Games Land.

Note: Before reading this review, keep in mind that this is an expansion and not a whole board game, and that only changes the physical appearance of the board game, as not the gameplay itself. A suggestion from us is first to read our review for the original Wingspan board game.

The Collection

The pack contains 255 cards featuring birds from both the base game and expansions. The catch with this expansion is that the art isn’t from Stonemeier Games, but from the fans, each card is recreated by different artists from the Wingspan community. What’s notable here isn’t just the quantity but the remarkable variety in artistic interpretation. During our plays, we found ourselves pausing more frequently between turns, not to analyze strategy but to examine the distinctive takes on familiar birds.

Artistic Range and Execution

The artistic approaches create a visual menagerie as diverse as the birds. Some standout examples in our opinion include:

• The Australian Shelduck: A striking piece rendered in traditional Aboriginal art style, bringing cultural depth to the scientific representation.
• The Northern Flicker: Crafted through digital collage, combining photographic textures with hand-drawn elements that innovatively capture the bird’s woodpecker heritage.
• The White-Bulled Sea Eagle: A striking fusion of nature and typography, where the majestic wings take flight through the art of words, seamlessly blending avian grace with the power of storytelling.
• The Mute Swan: An origami-inspired interpretation that cleverly incorporates the folded paper aesthetic into the bird’s natural grace.

Not every piece will resonate with every player, and that’s one of the pack’s more interesting aspects because it creates conversation around personal taste and artistic interpretation.

Practical Considerations

The functional elements remain unchanged, with habitat symbols, food costs, and special abilities maintaining clarity across different artistic styles. Some designs make certain information more immediately readable than others, though this varies card by card.

The card stock quality matches the original game, ensuring these cards shuffle and handle consistently with existing components. This might seem like a small detail, but it’s crucial for those planning to mix these with their original cards.

Integration Experience

During play, we found three distinct ways to utilize the pack:

• Complete replacement of original cards
• Mixed integration with existing cards
• Selective use for favorite species

Each approach offers a different experience, though we gravitated toward complete replacement to maintain visual consistency during individual sessions.

The Community Aspect

What sets this pack apart is its connection to the Wingspan community. Each card credits its artist, adding an unusual personal dimension to board game components. This creates an interesting meta-narrative about the game’s impact on its player base.

Technical Elements

The preservation of game information remains consistent across artistic styles, though some designs handle the integration more elegantly than others. The habitat icons, nest types, and ability text maintain functionality without compromising artistic expression.

Production Nuances

The production quality reveals thoughtful attention to detail beyond mere card printing. The semi-matte finish balances durability and visibility, reducing glare while maintaining color vibrancy. We particularly appreciate how different artistic mediums are reproduced – watercolors retain their subtle gradients, while digital art maintains its crisp lines.

The cardstock thickness has been carefully calibrated to match the original game components. However, we noticed slight variations in texture that actually help with shuffling. The color matching across different artists’ interpretations maintains consistency where needed (such as habitat symbols) while allowing individual artistic choices to shine through.

Areas for Consideration

While the artistic variety is generally a strength, it presents unique challenges worth considering. The vast range of styles can sometimes create cognitive dissonance during gameplay – imagine playing a photorealistic heron alongside a whimsical, Anime-style eagle. This visual discontinuity might affect the immersive experience for players who prefer consistent artistic direction. But that’s the point of this expansion, and for some people it is a bonus point, so it depends on the person.

Additionally, some artistic interpretations, while beautiful, occasionally sacrifice precise species identification for creative expression. This could impact players who use visual recognition as part of their strategy, particularly in faster-paced games.

Closing Thoughts

The Fan Art Pack represents something different in the board game space – not an expansion of mechanics but perspective. It demonstrates how a game can evolve beyond its original form through community engagement.

It offers collectors and enthusiasts a fresh way to experience familiar gameplay. It provides an alternative aesthetic for casual players that better aligns with their tastes. While not essential to enjoying Wingspan, it adds a layer of interest beyond mere variety.

The pack succeeds in its goal – celebrating the community while maintaining the game’s functionality. Whether this appeals to you depends on the value of artistic variety in your game experience

This pack won’t fundamentally change your Wingspan experience but might change how you see it.

The post Wingspan Fan Art Pack Review – A Community’s Love Takes Flight appeared first on Board Games Land.

Disclaimer: If you haven’t seen on played Apiary, most definitely check it out Here

Impressions & Components of Expanding the Hive

Let’s begin with the practical – everything fits perfectly into the original box, and the integration process is remarkably straightforward.

Veterans of the base game will appreciate how seamlessly new strategic options blend into existing mechanics – from how updated frames create natural decision points to how the new tiles expand familiar strategies without requiring rulebook consultation. The replacement components address community feedback: updated frames, refined Arti and Cecro faction tiles, and revised Engineer and Pharmacist recruit tiles all reflect improvements suggested through countless player sessions. First-printing owners like us receive special attention with a rebalanced explore token, demonstrating the designers’ commitment to supporting their earliest adopters (#25,000 on the box). There’s even a specific explore token replacement, showing attention to detail in supporting early adopters.

The new components are substantial: 7 hive mats, the new Cedoni faction tile, 15 seed cards adding variety to planting strategies, 4 new explore tokens, and an array of new tiles (4 farm, 3 carving, 4 recruit, and 5 development tiles). The 3 dance tiles with their 6 accompanying tokens introduce a new strategic consideration. It’s a quiet refinement rather than a dramatic overhaul, but the volume of new content is significant.

The revised frame system introduces fascinating strategic layers through 15 unique designs. Each frame now presents distinct opportunities for resource optimization and scoring combinations. During our recent tournament, we witnessed a player combining a frame’s honey-generation bonus with the new Cedoni faction’s abilities to create an impressive economic engine. Another memorable moment came when a player used a frame’s exploration bonus to fuel a spectacular late-game scoring surge through strategic seed card placement. The two-stack display system transforms frame selection from a simple efficiency choice into a key tactical decision point that can shape your entire game plan.

The seven new hive mats deserve careful consideration. They don’t dramatically alter the game’s trajectory but provide alternative starting positions that can influence your strategy. We noticed players going towards different approaches based on these starting conditions during our testing. In one session, the resource-conversion-focused mat led to an interesting economic engine. In contrast, another mat’s exploration benefits created a more adventurous playing style.

Gameplay Evolution

Here’s a typical scenario: Four players, mixed experience levels, and a third game with the expansion. The early game proceeded much like the base game, but the mid-game decisions carried more weight. The new development tiles created interesting chain reactions, and the expanded explore token pool maintained relevance throughout the game. The session concluded with scores more varied than usual, suggesting the expansion supports diverse strategic approaches.

The additional tiles – farm, carving, recruit, and development – integrate naturally into their respective categories. They don’t feel tacked on or unnecessary, though their impact is subtle rather than transformative. The three new dance tiles with their tokens add another layer of consideration without overwhelming the existing mechanics.

Does This Expansion Make Solo Play Better?

Solo players will find the expansion equally accommodating. The Automa rules receive a targeted addition regarding the Grow action—when Automa takes this action, players now remove the top frame from each stack of the display and place them under their respective stacks. This elegant rule maintains the smooth solitaire experience while incorporating new components and preventing frame stagnation. The compatibility with all expansion components ensures solo players get the full experience without added complexity.

Timing & Player Count Analysis

The game’s length remains unchanged at 60-90 minutes, though new players might require an additional 15 minutes to process the expanded options. We’ve found the sweet spot continues to be 3 to 4 players, where the new additions create interesting decisions without significantly extending playtime.

Real Table Experience

One session illustrated the expansion’s impact: A third-round decision point emerged. The interaction between new frame bonuses and expanded explore token options created a tactical puzzle absent from the base game. It wasn’t more complex, just different – and that’s precisely what this expansion does well.

The expansion weaves new strategic threads into the fabric of the base game, creating a richer tapestry of possibilities without unraveling what made Apiary compelling in the first place. Rather than merely adding content, these additions create new strategic intersections – points where decisions become more nuanced and rewards more satisfying. The interplay between new and existing elements feels like discovering hidden paths in a familiar garden, offering fresh perspectives on established strategies while maintaining the game’s core identity.

Scaling & Player Interaction

After multiple plays with various groups, we’ve come to the conclusion that the expansion integrates so naturally that it becomes difficult to distinguish new components from original ones during gameplay. This seamless integration speaks to thoughtful design and means the expansion’s impact is more subtle than spectacular.

It is worth noting how the expansion handles scaling. At two players, the new additions provide welcome variety without oversaturating the smaller playing field. At higher player counts, the expanded options create more divergent strategies without introducing additional downtime.

Production Quality

The production quality matches the base game, maintaining consistency in artwork and component quality. The new dance tiles and tokens are well-executed, with clear iconography that integrates seamlessly with the base game’s visual language. The frame cards maintain the excellent quality of the originals, and the new explore tokens are indistinguishable in quality from the base game components. The recyclable packaging reflects practical considerations rather than marketing priorities. Consistent marking of expansion components with a specific icon makes the organization straightforward.

Final Thoughts on Apiary: Expanding the Hive

After extensive table time with Apiary: Expanding the Hive, we’ve appreciated its subtle yet impactful enhancements. Connie Vogelmann’s design philosophy bursts through in the meticulous balance of new content. At the same time, Stonemaier Games‘ trademark production quality and integration approach is evident throughout.

Three key elements stand out: the unique frames that create meaningful decisions without rules overhead, the thoughtful rebalancing of existing components, and the new hive mats that introduce just enough asymmetry to keep strategies fresh. The expansion follows Stonemaier’s established pattern of careful curation over dramatic reinvention – much like their approach with Wingspan’s expansions.

One minor critique: while we appreciate the design restraint, a single innovative mechanical addition (similar to Viticulture’s grande worker) could have added another layer of interest. However, this doesn’t diminish the expansion’s overall success in enhancing the base game.

After dozens of plays, we consider these components integral to our apiary experience rather than an optional addition. While it may not be as transformative as some legendary expansions in the hobby, it achieves something equally valuable: improving an excellent game through thoughtful refinement rather than unnecessary complexity.

This expansion represents what we consider the ideal model – one that respects both the original design and the players’ investment in learning it. In an industry driven by novelty, something is refreshing about an expansion that focuses on enhancement over revolution.

The post Apiary: Expanding the Hive Review – Sweet New Strategy? appeared first on Board Games Land.

What’s the difference? – Viticulture vs. Viticulture World

The transition from competitive to cooperative play in the Viticulture World fundamentally transforms the core experience while maintaining the essence of what makes Viticulture unique. The most striking difference is in how players approach worker placement decisions. In standard Viticulture, blocking opponents from crucial spaces is a key strategic element. You might rush to claim the “Makeup to 2 Wine” action not just because you need it but to deny it to an opponent ready to fulfill a valuable wine order.

In the Viticulture World, this dynamic shifts. While worker placement spots can still be blocked, the question becomes, “Should we block this space?” rather than “Can I block my opponent?” Players must carefully choreograph their actions, discussing who needs which spaces and when. The grande worker takes on a new significance, becoming a tool for group strategy rather than individual advantage.

The influence track adds a new strategic layer absent from the base game. While standard Viticulture is about maximizing victory points, World forces players to balance personal advancement with group objectives. This creates interesting decisions where a player might forgo an optimal personal move to instead contribute to the group’s influence progress.

The seasonal worker system with the hat mechanics represents another significant departure. In base Viticulture, all workers are flexible, and managing your workforce between seasons is relatively straightforward. Introducing season-restricted workers in the world adds a new dimension to planning. You can’t load up all your actions in summer or winter anymore. This restriction makes the wake-up track choices more crucial than in the base game, as players need to coordinate their seasonal capabilities.

Perhaps the most significant gameplay shift comes from the innovation tile system. While Base Viticulture’s progression focuses on individual vineyard improvements, World allows players to collectively enhance the main board’s actions. This creates a shared sense of development that doesn’t exist in the competitive version.

The victory condition requiring all players to reach 25 points while maximizing influence creates a fundamentally different arc to the game. Where base Viticulture often sees players racing ahead with various strategies, World requires players to stay relatively synchronized in their development, supporting those falling behind while advancing the group’s goals.

These changes don’t make the World better or worse than base Viticulture. They make it distinctly different. The cooperative version emphasizes communication and coordination over competition and efficiency, creating an experience that feels more like managing a winemaking collective than competing vintners. It’s remarkable how these adjustments maintain the thematic integrity of Viticulture while offering a completely fresh way to experience its world of winemaking.

The Core Experience

Viticulture World maintains the foundational elements that made the original game great. Players still manage their vineyards, plant vines, harvest grapes, and produce wine, creating a familiar foundation for veterans of the base game.

The cooperative twist fundamentally changes how players approach these familiar mechanisms. Instead of competing for spots and resources, players must work together to achieve two main objectives: each player must reach 25 victory points, and the group must collectively advance their influence marker to the end of the track.

Time management becomes crucial as the game spans six years (rounds). Each year presents new challenges through event cards and innovation opportunities, creating a dynamic puzzle for the group to solve together.

The pressure to achieve both objectives—personal victory points and group influence—creates compelling tension throughout the game. Players constantly face meaningful decisions between focusing on their personal vineyard’s development or taking actions that benefit the group’s influence progress.

Components and Production of Viticulture World

The production value of Viticulture World exemplifies the premium quality we’ve come to expect from Stonemaier Games. The dual-sided board presents a clean, intuitive layout that smoothly incorporates the new cooperative elements while maintaining the pastoral charm of the original. The innovation tiles feature crisp iconography that is very functional and aesthetic. At the same time, the continent-specific decks showcase distinctive artwork that brings each region’s unique character to life. A well designed touch comes in the form of the seasonal worker markers which are distinctive headwear that transforms the familiar wooden meeples into specialized summer and winter workers. This practical yet visually engaging solution elegantly communicates the game state while adding personality to the table’s presence.

The Continental Challenge

The seven different continent modules (plus Greengully) are one of the expansion’s strongest features. Each brings unique challenges and mechanical twists that dramatically alter your approach to the game. The progression in difficulty feels natural, starting with the tutorial-like Greengully and ramping up through increasingly complex scenarios.

We’ve seen that these modules add tremendous replay value. The Europe module emphasizes government regulations and wine definition standards, while North America deals with prohibition-era challenges. Each continent feels distinct and thematically appropriate, encouraging different strategic approaches.

Mechanical Innovations

The seasonal worker system adds an interesting wrinkle to worker placement. Having workers restricted to specific seasons forces more careful planning and coordination between players. The ability to “train” workers by removing their hats (allowing them to work in either season) provides a valuable strategic option, though at a cost.

The innovation tile system is particularly brilliant. Upgrading action spaces creates a sense of progression and allows players to shape the game board to their collective needs. However, the random nature of tile availability can sometimes feel frustrating when crucial upgrades don’t appear at optimal times.

Cooperative Dynamics

The cooperative dynamics present an interesting social puzzle. Unlike many cooperative games where a single experienced player might naturally dominate decision-making, Viticulture World’s complexity creates natural barriers to this tendency. Each player manages their own intricate vineyard operation, making it difficult for any single player to effectively orchestrate everyone’s actions. The multifaceted nature of each turn – from worker placement timing to resource management – naturally encourages collaborative discussion rather than centralized control.

Through our testing, we’ve found that Viticulture World demonstrates flexibility across different player counts. While the game functions well at all supported numbers, three to four players creates an ideal balance of complexity and coordination. This range provides enough strategy to make each decision meaningful while keeping a smooth gameplay flow. With two players, the experience feels more intimate but requires each player to be highly efficient. The increased table interaction adds richness to the cooperative elements at higher counts. However, it can extend playing time as more voices contribute to each decision.

Criticisms and Considerations

While we thoroughly enjoy Viticulture World, it’s not without its imperfections. While thematic to worker placement games, the blocking mechanism can feel at odds with the cooperative nature. Though the grande worker and upgradeable spaces mitigate this, it can still create occasional friction.

The randomness of innovation tiles and visitor cards can sometimes feel too impactful, particularly in higher-difficulty modules where efficiency is crucial. Additionally, some players might find the 25-point individual requirement frustrating, as one player’s struggle can doom the entire group’s efforts.

A Recent Play Session

During a session with the Asia module, our group of four faced a critical turning point in year three. Two players had successfully established robust grape production, while another focused on building an efficient winemaking operation. However, our fourth player had invested heavily in structure development, leaving them behind in point generation. The arrival of a particularly challenging event card restricted our ability to trade resources, forcing us to completely reimagine our strategy.

Through careful deliberation, we devised an unconventional approach: our structure-focused player leveraged their buildings to generate resources for the group. At the same time, the rest of us alternated between influence generation and point-scoring actions. We orchestrated a remarkable comeback by synchronizing our grande worker deployments and maximizing the benefits of our upgraded spaces. The tension peaked in the final round as we calculated every possible action combination, ultimately securing victory with no actions to spare. This triumph emphasized how Viticulture World shines brightest when players fully embrace its cooperative nature.

Is Viticulture World for You?

Viticulture World caters particularly well to specific types of gamers. Players who enjoy strategic planning, cooperative problem-solving, and medium-weight worker placement games will find themselves right at home. This expansion is perfect for groups who appreciate lengthy discussions of optimal moves and enjoy working together toward common goals. However, it might not be the best fit for players who prefer direct competition or those frustrated by the need to coordinate extensively with others. A recommendation from us if you like cooperative board games combined with a party board game is Feed the Kraken. It isn’t close to this board game, but it has the same mechanics.

Conclusion – A Bold New Direction

After extensive play across multiple groups, Viticulture World proves to be another masterful creation from Jamey Stegmaier. The cooperative transformation works surprisingly well, creating moments like our nail-biting Europe module playthrough, where a last-minute sacrifice of a grande worker’s wine order led to a group victory.

The continent modules offer impressive variety, with Asia’s trading mechanics and North America’s prohibition challenges standing out as particular favorites. While the random innovation tile availability can occasionally frustrate (like that game where we desperately needed the planting upgrade but didn’t see it until year 5), the overall system of upgrading spaces adds a satisfying progression to the shared board.

Stegmaier’s trademark attention to detail shows through in both components and mechanics. Those little worker hats aren’t just cute. They create meaningful strategic decisions around seasonal timing. The cooperative elements feel thoughtfully integrated rather than tacked on. However, quarterback-prone players might need some reining in during initial plays.

For recommendations, start with Greengully regardless of experience level, then progress to Europe for the most balanced experience. Save Oceania for when your group has mastered the basics – it’s brutally challenging in the best way.

After 5 plays, this expansion has earned its place in our regular rotation, especially for those nights when we want something meaty but collaborative. Games typically run 100-120 minutes for the first few plays, longer than base Viticulture, however the engaging table discussion makes the time fly by.

While it won’t replace competitive Viticulture for everyone, World offers a fresh take on a modern classic. It’s an evolution that proves cooperative worker placement can work brilliantly when thoughtfully designed. For veterans and newcomers to Viticulture, this expansion offers a compelling new way to experience one of gaming’s finest worker placement designs.

The post Viticulture World Review – A Fresh Perspective on a Modern Classic appeared first on Board Games Land.

Hidden in Russia’s northern frontier traditions lies an artistic legacy that has inspired this fascinating tabletop experience. Mezen draws its essence from the indigenous craftwork of ancient artisans who decorated everyday items with mystical symbols and intricate patterns. This cultural heritage has been brilliantly transformed into a modern gaming masterpiece that marries traditional symbolism with contemporary puzzle mechanics. The game’s visual identity pays homage to these ancestral designs through its stark contrasts and primitive yet powerful imagery, creating a timeless and fresh atmosphere.

Component Quality and Visual Design

The game’s visual presentation stands out through its contrasting elements, light faces against dark reverses, and primitive animal designs against geometric patterns. The 125 tiles showcase meticulous attention to detail in their artwork, with each animal symbol carrying the distinctive characteristics of traditional Mezen craftwork. The goal cards and board maintain this aesthetic consistency, creating a cohesive visual experience that feels authentic and refined.

Our Mezen Experience

At its heart, Mezen is a spatial puzzle game that plays out over ten rounds. Its tile-flipping mechanism creates a constantly evolving tableau, which is awesome. Each round presents new challenges as players manipulate their 5×5 grids, trying to achieve the goals presented by the current and upcoming cards.

During our various playthroughs, we noticed that the game creates an interesting tension between immediate tactical decisions and longer-term strategic planning. Here’s a specific example from one of our recent games:

In round three, our grid contained a cluster of four horses in the center. The current goal card rewarded points for animals in corner positions, while the next round’s card would score for animals surrounded by different species. This created a dilemma: should we break up the horse group to position for the current round’s scoring or maintain it for potentially more significant benefits in the following round?

Game Length and Player Counts

Mezen typically plays in 30-45 minutes with two players, extending to about 60 minutes with four players. The game scales remarkably well across different player counts. In our two-player games, there’s a sharp focus on tactical decisions. In contrast, four-player games create unpredictable situations as multiple players manipulate their boards simultaneously.

The Amulet Economy

One of Mezen’s most elegant aspects is its amulet system. These tokens are a crucial strategic resource, allowing players to modify their tile groups or opt out of the active player’s chosen symbol. We’ve found that careful management of these amulets often separates experienced players from newcomers. Players saved their amulets until the final rounds in one game, creating a spectacular comeback by manipulating multiple large groups.

Strategy and Symbol Interactions of Mezen

Despite its apparent simplicity, Mezen has multiple layers of strategy:

• Group Management: Deciding which groups to break up and when
• Spatial Planning: Positioning tiles for both current and future scoring opportunities
• Resource Management: Strategic use of amulets
• Symbol Synergies: It is crucial to understand how different symbols interact. For instance, horses and hedgehogs often create powerful scoring combinations. In that moment, fish tiles can be particularly valuable when goal cards focus on the central area.
• Adaptation: Responding to the evolving board state as tiles flip and reveal new symbols

The Victory Point system adds another layer of strategy, with goals typically awarding 2-3 points per successful combination. We’ve found that experienced players often sacrifice immediate small-point gains to set up more considerable scoring opportunities in subsequent rounds.

Luck vs. Strategy Balance

Through its tile-flipping mechanism, Mezen introduces an element of tactical adaptation. Rather than viewing this as pure chance, we’ve found it creates moments of opportunity and requires players to demonstrate flexibility in their strategy. The game rewards those who can think on their feet and adjust their plans based on newly revealed possibilities. This dynamic element keeps each session fresh and challenges players to develop multiple paths to victory rather than relying on predetermined strategies.

Player Interaction and Scaling

The game scales remarkably well across different player counts. In our two-player games, there’s a sharp focus on tactical decisions. In contrast, four-player games create unpredictable situations as multiple players manipulate their boards simultaneously. The active player mechanic adds an interesting interaction layer without becoming overly confrontational.

Learning Curve and Accessibility in

The game’s rules are straightforward and can be taught in about 5-10 minutes. However, mastering the spatial relationships and understanding how to utilize the amulet system takes several plays. Common beginner mistakes include:

• Neglecting the importance of tile positioning after flipping
• Overusing amulets early in the game
• Focusing too much on current goals while ignoring upcoming scoring opportunities
• Breaking up valuable tile groupings without considering future rounds

Mezen Solo Experience

The solitaire mode deserves special attention, offering a remarkably different experience from the multiplayer game. Starting with just 2 amulets instead of the regular 5 creates a tighter puzzle that demands careful resource management. This mode is particularly engaging because it distributes additional amulets on rounds four, six, eight, and ten, creating natural progression points throughout the game.

During our numerous solo sessions, we found ourselves completely absorbed in trying to reach the coveted “Master Craftsman” level (131+ points). The journey through the achievement levels – from Pupil to Skilled Craftsman – provides clear goals that keep you coming back for more. One session saw one of us reaching 128 points, tantalizingly close to the highest tier, through a carefully cultivated pattern of birds in the final rounds.

The solo mode shines because it maintains the core puzzle aspect while adding a race-against-yourself element. Without other players to consider, you can focus entirely on optimizing your board state, making it an excellent practice tool for multiplayer games and a compelling standalone experience.

Final Thoughts on Mezen

For fans of abstract puzzlers like Azul, Mezen offers familiar satisfaction with its unique twist. Nikita Sorokin’s debut design impressively bridges traditional Mezen folk art with modern game mechanics, creating something beautiful and engaging. Also, credit to Hobby World for publishing this gold.

The game truly shines in its accessibility while maintaining strategic depth. During our recent gaming weekend, my puzzle-loving mother went from a confused newcomer to a tactical master in just three games, winning by expertly managing her amulets and bird combinations. While the random tile flips can occasionally frustrate (that crucial final-round flip that cost Mike the game still haunts us), the game provides enough strategic tools to mitigate most unfortunate reveals. From the mechanics, we can see why some people call this game the Candy Crush Board Game, but this one has a spice.

What sets Mezen apart is its meditative quality. Unlike many modern games that overwhelm with options, this offers a more contemplative experience that we’ve found particularly enjoyable during our Sunday afternoon gaming sessions. The solo mode is robust, and achieving the “Master Craftsman” level requires genuine skill and planning rather than luck.

After more than 5 plays, we’re still learning new strategies. While there are more complex games, few match Mezen’s elegant balance of accessibility and depth. The sweet spot is three players, though it scales nicely on all counts. Whether you’re an experienced gamer or new to the hobby, Mezen offers something unique. Just be prepared to explain why you’re so captivated by a board entirely of black and white animals!

Pros:

• Good thematic integration
• Innovative spatial puzzle mechanics
• Satisfying decision space at all player counts
• Exceptional balance of accessibility and depth
• Rewarding solo challenges

Cons:

• The initial learning curve is steeper than appears
• Maybe not for the beginners
• Setup time can be longer than expected
• Abstract nature might not appeal to theme-focused gamers.

The post Mezen Review: Is This Still the Best Puzzle Board Game? appeared first on Board Games Land.

Core Experience

Diamant places players as adventurous explorers delving into the treacherous Tacora caves. The game’s genius lies in its elegant push-your-luck mechanism, where each step deeper into the cave system presents opportunity and danger. What sets it apart from similar games is how it creates genuine tension through its simultaneous decision-making system. If you like party board games but with a little budget this is the one for you.

A complete game of Diamant, consisting of five cave explorations, typically runs 20-30 minutes. It is an ideal filler game or opener for longer gaming sessions. Individual rounds move quickly, usually taking 4-6 minutes each, which helps maintain engagement even when players are forced to retreat early. The brisk pace ensures that even player elimination during a round doesn’t create significant downtime, as a new round is always just minutes away.

We recently played a session with six players that perfectly encapsulated the game’s dramatic moments. During the third cave exploration, our group successfully navigated past several modest treasure cards, collecting 4, 7, and 5 gems. The excitement was palpable as we revealed a spectacular 17 gem cache. But we’d already seen one spider trap card earlier in the round. Five players, drunk on the possibility of more riches, chose to press on. Only Tijana, ever the cautious player, decided to retreat, which was a decision that proved prophetic when the next card revealed was indeed a second spider trap.

From Simple to Stunning

Diamant by IELLO has undergone a striking visual overhaul compared to the older Incan Gold version, presenting a fresh redesign of its components. In Diamant (2024), the game introduces detailed 3D-like elements such as mini treasure chests for each player, vibrant explorer figures, and a modernized game board with rich, atmospheric artwork that enhances the thematic feel of exploring a cave. The gems, now ruby and diamond-shaped, are crafted from translucent plastic, adding a tactile and visual charm to the treasure collection experience.

In contrast, Incan Gold relies on simpler card-based representations and cardboard tokens, which, while functional, lack the elaborate detailing and polish of Diamant. This redesign elevates the game’s aesthetic appeal, offering a more engaging experience while retaining the core mechanics loved by fans of the original.

Diamant Gameplay

Each game consists of five distinct cave explorations. During each exploration, players simultaneously face crucial decisions after every card reveal:

Expedition Card Types:

• Treasure Cards: Displaying gem values from 1 to 17
• Trap Cards: Five varieties (spiders, snakes, lava, rockfalls, and gas)
• Relic Cards: Special treasures worth 5-12 gems (variant rules)

The Scoring System

The scoring mechanism is elegantly simple yet offers interesting strategic decisions. Players collect Rubies (worth 1 point each) throughout their cave explorations. Still, they can exchange five Rubies for a Diamond (worth 5 points) at any time. This conversion mechanism adds extra strategy: do you keep your Rubies separate for flexibility or convert them to Diamonds to make your wealth more compact? In our experience, successful players often balance both, converting some Rubies while keeping others available for odd numbered scoring opportunities.

Decision Points: Players secretly select whether to continue exploring or return to camp after each card reveal. This creates fascinating psychological dynamics, especially when players try to read each other’s intentions.

The Trap System

We’ve found the trap mechanism particularly clever. The first appearance of any trap type serves as a warning. In contrast, a second appearance of the same trap triggers a cave in, forcing all remaining explorers to flee empty handed. This creates an excellent probability puzzle that even experienced gamers find engaging.

Strategy Considerations for Diamant

Through multiple playtests, we’ve identified several key strategic elements, maybe you should try them:

Probability Assessment

• Tracking revealed traps becomes crucial
• Understanding the remaining treasure distribution
• Calculating risk/reward ratios based on current gems

Player Psychology

• Reading opponents’ risk tolerance
• Timing exits to maximize gem collection
• Using others’ greed to your advantage

Relic Strategy

• Balancing the potential value of relics against immediate gems
• Timing solo exits to secure valuable relics

The MultiPlayer Dynamic

One of Diamant’s strongest features is how it scales across different player counts. We’ve tested it extensively with groups of 3, 5, and 8 players, and each count offers a unique experience:

3 Players: More tactical, with each player’s decisions having a greater impact

5 Players: Optimal balance of interaction and personal strategy

8 Players: Creates chaotic fun with more unpredictable outcomes

Learning the Game

The rules can be taught in under five minutes, making it an excellent gateway game.

Minor Critiques While Diamant excels in many areas, we’ve noticed a few minor issues:

• The gem distribution can occasionally feel uneven
• Player elimination can occur early in a round
• The random nature might frustrate strategy focused gamers

Much good, not so much bad about Diamant

Strengths:

• Excellent production quality
• Highly engaging push-your-luck mechanism
• Great scalability across player counts
• A perfect blend of luck and strategy
• Creates memorable gaming moments

Weaknesses:

• Some rounds can end too quickly
• Luck can occasionally overshadow strategy
• It might be too light for heavy strategy gamers

Our final thoughts

After dozens of plays over the past month, the 2024 Diamant has proven far more than just a refined version of Incan Gold. The collaborative genius of Alan R. Moon (of Ticket to Ride fame) and Bruno Faidutti (known for Citadels) shows through in every aspect of this design, even BETTER with the new design by IELLO.

What particularly impresses me is how the game creates natural table talk and tension. The revelation of decisions creates this incredible moment of anticipation that few other games achieve. “Just one more card,” we’ll say, knowing well that overconfidence has been our downfall.

I recommend starting with the base game for families and casual gamers. At the same time, experienced groups should include the relics from the start. While it may not satisfy those seeking a profoundly strategic experience with minimal luck, that’s not Diamant’s goal. It’s designed to create stories and “remember when” moments and succeeds brilliantly at that.

The sweet spot for player count is 5-6 players, though even our 3-player games have been thoroughly enjoyable. The production quality, from the weight of the gems to the satisfying click of the treasure chests, makes this feel like a premium product, elevating it above its predecessor.

At most at 30$, you’re getting a game that works beautifully as both a gateway for new players and a palate cleanser for hardcore gamers. Whether opening game night or closing it after intense strategy games, Diamant has proven its versatility in our group. Very good!

Suppose there’s one thing we’ve learned from countless cave expeditions. In that case, the best gaming experiences aren’t always about complex strategy, they’re sometimes about sharing moments of tension with friends. Diamant delivers these moments consistently, earning its permanent place in my collection. Remember, when you’re deep in the cave, everyone urges you to push your luck again. You should take those gems and run.

The post DARE TO DIG DEEPER? This Diamant Board Game Review Will Make You Sweat! appeared first on Board Games Land.