Paleolithic (2018) Board Game

Paleolithic is a board game released in 2018, designed by Meng-Jung Yang and illustrated by Shepherd Kit, Inc. It falls under the categories of Adventure, Ancient, Animals, Children’s Game, and Civilization. The game is meant for 2-4 players, with a runtime of 40-60 minutes and an age recommendation of 7 and up.

Game Components of Paleolithic

Player mats: Each player has a unique mat with a symbol indicating their starting space.

Animal companions: Represented by wooden tokens that match the size and shape of the player’s meeples.

Meeples: Three meeples per player, used for worker placement.

Wooden huts: 3D displays that hold the huts until they are purchased and placed.

Resource tokens: Representing food, jade, stone, etc.

Artifact cards: Each with its own points and potential bonus points.

Tribal tiles: Used for building tribes.

Dice: Used for determining resource collection.

Board: A 4-piece puzzle board with clear spaces for worker placement and resource collection.

How To Setup Paleolithic

To set up the game, start by assembling the 4-piece puzzle board. Each player receives a player board, two cavemen tokens, and an animal companion token, which are placed on the starting space. The tribal stands are set up with hut tokens, and two tribal tiles are placed face-up on the board. Five Artifact cards are shuffled and placed face-up on the left side of the board. Finally, distribute the tokens in each player’s color.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players use their meeples and animal companions to collect resources.

Resource Management: Collect resources based on dice rolls and the number of tokens on a space.

Dice Rolling: Determine resource collection by rolling a dice and adding the number of tokens on the space.

Artifact Crafting: Players can produce artifacts by discarding resources equal to those pictured on the Artifact card.

Tribe Building: Players can build tribes using resources.

Objective: The game ends when a player has a combination of eight artifacts and tribal tiles. The player with the most points, earned from artifacts and tribal tiles, wins.

Player Experience

Paleolithic offers a fun and engaging experience, especially for younger players. The game features colorful and whimsical artwork, making it appealing to children. The mechanics are simple enough for new players to grasp while still providing strategic depth. Players explore the board, collect resources, and aim to build tribes and craft artifacts. The game ensures that no turn is wasted, as players always collect some resources, keeping the game tight and competitive until the end.

Pros

High-quality components: Top-notch build quality, including a silky finish on the board and cards, and excellent wooden pieces.

Intuitive gameplay: Easy to understand for new players, with clear spaces and paths on the board.

Colorful and appealing art: Whimsical and endearing artwork that younger players love.

Balanced luck and skill: Combines worker placement with dice rolling to balance luck and strategy.

Expansions available: Includes expansions like “Dawn of Humanity” and “Seafarers” that add new mechanics and increase player count.

Cons

Limited complexity: May be too simple for experienced gamers.

Resource cap: Players can only hold 12 resources, which might limit strategic options.

Need for expansions: Some players might find the base game a bit short and require the expansions for additional depth.

Personal Thoughts on Paleolithic

Paleolithic is an excellent choice for families or for introducing children to the world of board games. It offers a light and fun experience with just enough strategic depth to keep players engaged. The game’s design ensures that it remains competitive and enjoyable for all players, making it an ideal addition to any family game collection. While it may not offer the complexity that experienced gamers seek, it perfectly fills the niche for a family-weight game that is both educational and entertaining.

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