7 Summits (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The 7 Summits Board Game was released in 2021 and is designed by Megan Cheever, Kwanchai Moriya, and Sean Seal. The game is published by Deep Water Games and falls under the dice category. It is suitable for 2 to 5 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up.

Game Components of 7 Summits

Board: Featuring the seven mountains, each with its own track.

Dice: 6 D4s (four-sided dice) color-coded for 6 mountains, and 2 “Risk” dice.

Meeples: Player tokens for climbing the mountains.

Equipment Cards: 36 cards with various one-time actions.

Mission Cards: Secret mission cards for additional points.

Skill Tracks: Three tracks on the player board for one-time or ongoing bonuses.

Player Boards: For tracking progress and bonuses.

How To Setup 7 Summits

To set up the game, place the board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a meeple and places it at the base of each mountain. Players are dealt one secret mission card. The six mountain dice are rolled to determine the starting positions of the dice at the base of their respective mountains.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: The start player rolls 6 mountain dice, which are placed at the base of their respective mountains.

Player Movement: Players choose a die and move their meeple up the corresponding mountain or Mount Everest.

Press Your Luck: Players can roll “Risk” dice to move further but risk falling to the base of the mountain.

Skill Tracks: Spaces on the mountain tracks provide bonuses or boosts on Skill tracks.

Equipment Cards: Can be used to break game rules as one-time actions.

Objective: Reach the summit of each mountain, with the player having the most points winning.

Player Experience

Playing **7 Summits** can be a straightforward and family-friendly experience. The game is easy to understand, making it suitable for children as young as 5 years old. However, for adults, the game can feel somewhat repetitive and lacking in deep strategy. The decision space is limited, which can make the game less engaging for older players. The “Press On” mechanic adds a layer of excitement and risk, but it also leads to predictable strategies, especially when targeting Mount Everest, which offers the highest points.

Pros

Family-Friendly: Easy to learn and suitable for young children.

Educational: Introduces children to the concept of climbing major mountains.

Compact Board: Fits comfortably on a coffee or card table.

Luck and Strategy: The “Press On” mechanic adds a thrilling element of risk.

Cons

Limited Strategy: Decision space is narrow, leading to repetitive gameplay for adults.

Predictable: Players often target the same mountains, particularly Everest.

No Alternate Settings: Lack of variability in gameplay settings.

Duplicate Equipment Cards: Some equipment cards are duplicates.

Personal Thoughts on 7 Summits

**7 Summits** is ideal for families with young children who enjoy simple, risk-and-reward gameplay. For adults, it may not offer the depth and complexity they seek in a board game. It’s a great introduction to board games for kids and can spark real-life interests in geography and mountaineering. However, for experienced gamers, it might feel too light and predictable.

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