Mastering Strategy and Shared Resources in Arborea

Time is your greatest resource in our new favourite game Arborea. As the sun sets over a post-apocalyptic landscape, something unknown creeps across the land. In Arborea players are tasked with being the Patron Spirit, with the goal of overseeing the rebirth of the realm. If you love deep strategy Euro type games in a post apocalyptic setting where the story twists and turns as you play, then Arborea might just be the perfect game for you.

Arborea is a non-traditional worker placement game where your timing is everything. Players must send their villagers out on pilgrimages along the Action Tracks. The farther along the track you move, the better the rewards. Moving a track however pushes everyone's workers forward as it is a shared resource. Players need to coordinate (or even strategically compete!) in order to maximise their momentum. We love that the game is friendly but highly strategic!

Players can use their hard earned rewards in order to construct a personal Ecosystem by overlaying terrain cards. This helps to create habitats for the twelve unique and majestic creatures that feature in Arborea. As their ecosystem flourishes, players must venture to an abandoned city where they race to seek boons from the wise Sages inhabit the area. But be careful! The creeping corruption must be cleansed from both the habitats and creatures in order for the realm to really prosper.

The mechanics of the game are as immersive as the artwork. Arborea is a bold, colourful and ethereal game that brings it’s post apocalyptic world to life with a vibrant presence at the table which proves hard to ignore! It’s components are just as vibrant as the game board.

We are looking forward to the Arborea Expansions that are set within the Arborea Extended Universe. Arborea Rewild and Arborea Corruption are due to come next year and we can't wait to see what these expansions have in store for us!

Arborea is a rewarding challenge for those who enjoy heavy Euro games where every decision impacts the rest of the session. Because of its complexity and a play time of roughly two hours, this isn't a game to rush through over coffee; it’s a full on gaming experience perfect for a dedicated evening of strategy and competition.

If you can master the flow of the pilgrimage tracks and the delicate balance of shared resources, you’ll find Arborea to be one of the most unique gaming experiences in your collection. If you want to check out more story based games, why not check out our World Book Day post where we look at some board games based on Literary greats!

Have you ever played a game where helping your opponents actually helps you win? We’d love to hear your thoughts on "friendly" competitive games! Let us know your favourites over on our socials.