Quick Takes: 
1-5 players 
90-115 minutes 
Ages 14+ 
(for advanced gamers looking for a challenge)
The real 1920s weren't exactly a picnic for most of Europe, but it was still better than the alternative 1920s Europa of Scythe. Scythe is an engine-building game set in the area around a capitalistic city-state known as "The Factory." Europa is still reeling from the first great war, and The Factory has closed its doors. You and up to 4 other players are characters from one of five factions of Eastern Europe who seek their fortune by claiming land around The Factory. To succeed, you must conquer territories, enlist new recruits, gain villagers, reap resources, and build structures.
Scythe is an asymmetrical strategy game (like Root), where each of the five factions has different starting resources, locations, and hidden goals. It kind of sounds like a war game, but in this Europa, the factions are already pretty fed up with war. Scythe has a unique popularity mechanic - the people in the territories you hold have to like you. And people hate war. This dissuades most major combat, making this game play more like the Cold War than a World War.
If you nodded vigorously at the famous line in Titanic, "a real man makes his own luck," we have a feeling you'll love Scythe. This game is pure play strategy, with very little luck involved. All decisions, including combat, are up to you.
If you like other resource gathering games like Agricola, this is a nice step up in terms of complexity. The artwork and pieces are also beautiful, in true Stonemaier Games fashion.
- Strategy - this game gets you thinking
- For the unlucky among us, this game is what you make it. Luck is almost non-existent in shaping outcomes
- We <3 Jamey Stegmaier, but seriously, he is a great game designer
- Amazing 5x Golden Geek Winner: Board Game of the Year, Solo Board Game, Thematic Board Game, Board Game Artwork & Presentation, and Strategy Board Game - 2016
- Board Game Quest Awards Best Strategy/Euro Game Winner - 2016
- Gra Roku Best Original Artwork Winner - 2017
- And many more!