Scythe
Scythe is an engine-building game set in an alternate-history 1920s period. It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.
You may also like…
Meeple on Board Rating
Be the first to review this product.Board Game Geek Reviews
Be the first to review “Scythe”
You must be logged in to post a review.
It is a time of unrest in 1920s Europa. The ashes from the first great war still darken the snow. The capitalistic city-state known simply as “The Factory”, which fueled the war with heavily armored mechs, has closed its doors, drawing the attention of several nearby countries.
Scythe is an engine-building game set in an alternate-history 1920s period. It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor. In Scythe, each player represents a character from one of five factions of Eastern Europe who are attempting to earn their fortune and claim their faction’s stake in the land around the mysterious Factory. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs.
Each player begins the game with different resources (power, coins, combat acumen, and popularity), a different starting location, and a hidden goal. Starting positions are specially calibrated to contribute to each faction’s uniqueness and the asymmetrical nature of the game (each faction always starts in the same place).
Scythe gives players almost complete control over their fate. Other than each player’s individual hidden objective card, the only elements of luck or variability are “encounter” cards that players will draw as they interact with the citizens of newly explored lands. Each encounter card provides the player with several options, allowing them to mitigate the luck of the draw through their selection. Combat is also driven by choices, not luck or randomness.
Scythe uses a streamlined action-selection mechanism (no rounds or phases) to keep gameplay moving at a brisk pace and reduce downtime between turns. While there is plenty of direct conflict for players who seek it, there is no player elimination.
Every part of Scythe has an aspect of engine-building to it. Players can upgrade actions to become more efficient, build structures that improve their position on the map, enlist new recruits to enhance character abilities, activate mechs to deter opponents from invading, and expand their borders to reap greater types and quantities of resources. These engine-building aspects create a sense of momentum and progress throughout the game. The order in which players improve their engine adds to the unique feel of each game, even when playing one faction multiple times.
Designer | Jamey Stegmaier |
---|---|
Publisher | Angry Lion Games, Crowd Games, Fire on Board Jogos, Ludofy Creative, Morning, Playfun Games, Albi, Arclight, Delta Vision Publishing, Feuerland Spiele, Ghenos Games, Maldito Games, Matagot, PHALANX, Stonemaier Games |
Play Time | 90m – 115m |
Mechanics | Area Control / Area Influence, Grid Movement, Miniatures, Variable Player Powers |
Players | Solo, 2 Players, 3 Players, 4 Players, 5 Players |
Ages | 14+ |
Theme | Economic, Fighting, Science Fiction, Territory Building |
AaronCRdz
The game that look as a war game, but isn´t about war! Great game to play with friends that are always looking a way to attack you! perfect to start everything as friend trying to get your cards your factory and then using your mechs to attack the others, so fun to play with good friends.
aaronph
Great game, surprisingly quick to learn considering how complicated it seemed at the outset. The mechanics are rich and intuitive. Played with my friend who has a collector's edition. I am jealous. All 4 players enjoyed the experience and the end was close enough to come down to a tiebreaker.
Acama
Really great game, with wonderful production quality. Always fun to play. Looks like a war game, but battles are definitely a very minor part of the game.