GamesRadar+ Verdict
For fans of heavyweight strategy board games, Arborea will be right on the money.
Arborea is a little bit different.
Post-apocalyptic games are ten a penny.
They then spend those resources and actions in various ways to try and gain points.
Many of the rewards youll get from moving down a trail involve generating biome resources.
The tracks for these have two pieces, split into an upper and lower segment.
In terms of how it looks, Arborea is a colorful, visually-arresting game with a distinct voice.
Biome resources are mostly spent on playing ecosystem cards, which you could gain from other trail actions.
Different creatures score bonuses for different adjacent habitat spaces.
There are several other mechanics of note.
It should be noted that this is not a comprehensive explanation.
This results in a fascinating interplay of dynamics, which are often double-edged swords.
If this sounds up your street, there are plenty of other worker placement games out there.
Cleverly, while it feels like your decisions have major consequences for other players, theyre only beneficial.
No-one is going to feel like theyre being attacked, or having things taken from them.
Beyond this unusual interplay, Arborea plays a lot like a typical heavyweight strategy game.
Of particular note is the gifting mechanic because its a little mini-game in its own right.
Arborea doesnt do that directly, but the sage gifts can feel a little bit like it.
Its also a rather impractical game on multiple levels.
Its hard to teach, and takes a couple of hours to play.
Should you buy Arborea?
If youre a fan of big, heavyweight strategy fare, then Arborea should be on your to-play list.
Arborea will breathe new life into games night as a result.
The appeal lies in its stellar mechanics.
How we tested Arborea
We reviewed Arborea using a copy of the game provided by the publisher.
This review is the result of hands-on playtest sessions to get a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics.
For recommendations of what to try next, be sure to check out ourboard games for 2 playersguide.
you’re able to drop in on our bestcooperative board gamesfeature, too.
