The Breakdown:
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 min.
Weight: 2.6/10
Publisher: Space Cowboys
Mechanics: Set Collection
Components: 40 Gems (Poker-Style Chips)
90 Development Cards
40 Level 1
30 Level 2
20 Level 3
10 Noble Tiles
Rulebook
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 min.
Weight: 2.6/10
Publisher: Space Cowboys
Mechanics: Set Collection
Components: 40 Gems (Poker-Style Chips)
90 Development Cards
40 Level 1
30 Level 2
20 Level 3
10 Noble Tiles
Rulebook
The Review:
Every once in a while in the board gaming world, an unknown designer and publisher burst on the scene with a game that has some massive hype behind it. Splendor was one of those games in 2014, quickly earning a reputation for an easy-to-learn, high quality, strategic board game. Does the game end up matching its near unanimous reviews? Let’s open the box and take a look.
Every once in a while in the board gaming world, an unknown designer and publisher burst on the scene with a game that has some massive hype behind it. Splendor was one of those games in 2014, quickly earning a reputation for an easy-to-learn, high quality, strategic board game. Does the game end up matching its near unanimous reviews? Let’s open the box and take a look.
Splendor is one of those games that really underwhelms when you open the box. Did they really need a box this large? I know shelf appeal can be everything, but still. That being said, the rest of the components are top notch. The gem chips are fantastic, heavy poker chips. There’s just something so rewarding about having a high-quality tactile, component to play with during the game. The cards are decent card stock and feature some pretty nice art work. The nobles are on pretty thick cardboard, and to be honest, I really don’t care for the portrait artwork in this game.
Gameplay:
Objective: To acquire 15 Prestige Points (From cards and/or nobles)
Set Up:
3 players: 5 of each gem
4 players: All the gems
Gameplay:
Objective: To acquire 15 Prestige Points (From cards and/or nobles)
Set Up:
- Draw 4 cards from each of the development card decks and place them face-up next to the deck
- Shuffle the Nobles and place 1 for each player plus one near the decks. For example, a 3p game would have 4 nobles
- Place the tokens in 6 different piles, the numbers of which change depending on player count (except for gold):
3 players: 5 of each gem
4 players: All the gems
On your turn:
You may do one of the following actions:
As you purchase cards, their gem in the upper right hand corner can be used as if you had a token of that color, significantly lowering the cost of some cards (and making some free).
Game Ends:
When one player reaches 15 points, the last round triggers so every player ends up having the same amount of turns. This could mean that the first to 15 may not win.
Final Thoughts:
Splendor was one of the most hyped games of 2014, and I can see why. Very rarely do games come out anymore that have such a wonderful simplicity to them with a surprising amount of depth. I’ve played the game probably 10 or so times and I’m still not sure what the optimal strategy is. I’m sure there is a mathy way or figuring out what the optimal route is, but I sure haven’t found it just from playing it regularly; that just makes me want to play it more.
This is a game that can be taught quickly to those who play games and those who don’t. I could see this game going over very well with parents/grandparents who might not play anything other than card games. There isn’t an overbearing theme that could be kind of a turn off to non-gamers, but then again there really is no theme, which is a detraction. You’re collecting gems, it could just as easily have been vegetables or cakes.
The other detraction of this game is that there is very little socialization during the game, it feels like multiplayer solitaire. You wouldn’t think a somewhat simple game like Splendor would be that way, but everyone is constantly trying to figure out how to get the optimal amount of gems and cards and there is very little talking going on.
At the end of the day, I think it’s a really solid game. It doesn’t really jump off the shelf as a game I NEED to play, but like most of my collection it has its place. If you like games with some decent depth that are extremely easy to teach and get to the table, Splendor might be the game for you.
Positives:
You may do one of the following actions:
- Take 3 gem tokens of different colors
- Take 2 gem tokens of the same color (Only if there are 4 or more remaining)
- Take 1 development cards (any of the face up cards or from the deck) and 1 gold token, to place in your reserve (This card can only be played by you)
- Purchase 1 development card (Either from the face up cards or from your reserve) by paying its gem token cost
As you purchase cards, their gem in the upper right hand corner can be used as if you had a token of that color, significantly lowering the cost of some cards (and making some free).
Game Ends:
When one player reaches 15 points, the last round triggers so every player ends up having the same amount of turns. This could mean that the first to 15 may not win.
Final Thoughts:
Splendor was one of the most hyped games of 2014, and I can see why. Very rarely do games come out anymore that have such a wonderful simplicity to them with a surprising amount of depth. I’ve played the game probably 10 or so times and I’m still not sure what the optimal strategy is. I’m sure there is a mathy way or figuring out what the optimal route is, but I sure haven’t found it just from playing it regularly; that just makes me want to play it more.
This is a game that can be taught quickly to those who play games and those who don’t. I could see this game going over very well with parents/grandparents who might not play anything other than card games. There isn’t an overbearing theme that could be kind of a turn off to non-gamers, but then again there really is no theme, which is a detraction. You’re collecting gems, it could just as easily have been vegetables or cakes.
The other detraction of this game is that there is very little socialization during the game, it feels like multiplayer solitaire. You wouldn’t think a somewhat simple game like Splendor would be that way, but everyone is constantly trying to figure out how to get the optimal amount of gems and cards and there is very little talking going on.
At the end of the day, I think it’s a really solid game. It doesn’t really jump off the shelf as a game I NEED to play, but like most of my collection it has its place. If you like games with some decent depth that are extremely easy to teach and get to the table, Splendor might be the game for you.
Positives:
- Very easy to teach
- Surprising amount of depth
- High replayability without needing different set-ups
- Poker chip tokens
- Not expensive, but pricey for what you get
- Very little theme
- Little social and game interaction