Meeple on Board Rating
Be the first to review this product.Board Game Geek Reviews
Be the first to review “Apotheca”
You must be logged in to post a review.
Apotheca
Players craft potions in a secret marketplace. Hide ingredients to deceive opponents, and use magical powers to mix concoctions. But beware – your opponents are brewing schemes of their own!
Apotheca is played on a 4×4 grid. Players gain points by making matches of three potions of the same color in a row. The first player to make three matches wins. It’s easily learned, but the combination of asymmetric powers and secret facedown potions make the game a delicious challenge.
On each turn, players take 2 of 4 possible actions:
Reveal: Reveal a secret potion and gain a gem of that color
Restock: Draw, look at, and place secret potions on the board until there are exactly 3
Power: Use one of your active apothecary powers
Hire: Spend gems to hire new apothecaries
Whenever a player makes a match, they must place it on one of their apothecaries. This removes that apothecary’s power for the rest of the game, so it’s important for players to keep revealing potions, collecting gems and hiring new apothecaries… all while keeping their opponents at bay!
Deduction is key to Apotheca. Players trap each other with clever spatial moves, bluffing and misdirection. The action economy is very well balanced, so every turn offers an opportunity for strategy and tough decisions.
The feeling of the game differs with every number of players:
2 player is the most cerebral and controlled
3 player is the most chaotic, yet still within your grasp
4 player is played in teams, offering neat collaborative gameplay
| Ages | 13+ |
|---|---|
| Players | Solo, 2 Players, 3 Players, 4 Players |
| Play Time | 30m |
| Designer | Andrew Federspiel |
| Mechanics | Action Points, Team-Based Game, Grid Movement, Variable Player Powers |
| Theme | Abstract Strategy, Bluffing, Deduction, Puzzle |
| Publisher | Knapsack Games, Renegade Game Studios |
alsonot
It's just a bit much for my kids aged 8 & 10, but we still play it all the time. Very easy to play, it's in our families top 3! I feel it's a bit like speed chess, but with pretty pictures and stories, and a nice simple mechanic you can play slow or fast. Some of the movements were a bit hard for my kids to learn, but there's no reason you need to be 13+ to enjoy this. Plays 3 very well!
DeKerstman
Played a few games, which were allright. However, shelf space is tight and traded this one away to make room for other games.
eyeofmidas
I preordered Apotheca when it was a Kickstarter project. I have since played it numerous times with family and friends for great amusement! The games are quick so even if you make a bad move you're not miserable for the rest of a long game, and it allows new players to fumble around the first go-through and start wielding the elaborate strategy the next game in. The quality and polish of the game are top notch; the little moulded gems and weighty thickness of the potion cards really add to the professional feel of this game. I love this game and I play it every time we have game night.