Arkosa (2021) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Arkosa is a science fiction board game released in 2021, designed by Toon Hammer. The game is set in a futuristic world where players take on the role of space traders exploring the galaxy, collecting resources, and trading with alien species. With a mix of action points, hand management, set collection, storytelling, and trading mechanics, Arkosa offers a unique gaming experience for 1 to 4 players.

Game Components of Arkosa

1 Game Board

6 Bunker Boards

7 Colony Leader Boards

46 Bunker Room Tiles

1 Room Tile Bag

94 Resource Tokens

60 Power Shard Pieces

2 Six Sided Dice

16 Player Markers

48 Unique Colonist Cards

112 Unique Event Cards

20 Unique Bribe Cards

3 Game Board Markers

2 Quick Guide Sheets

1 Rulebook.

How To Setup Arkosa

To set up Arkosa, you need to perform a detailed initial setup. This involves shuffling and drawing from several different card decks, including colonist cards, event cards, and bribe cards. The board setup changes between rounds, reflecting the progress of the game’s story arc. Players must separate the different types of resource tokens and ensure each player has their starting components, including their bunker board and initial colonists. The setup is somewhat complex and time-consuming, requiring about a couple of hours for the first game to include learning and setup.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Sequence: The game is played over three rounds, each consisting of actions, feeding colonists, adjusting morale, and triggering room production.

Actions: Players can put a colonist to work, explore with a colonist, build a room, trade resources, or take a bribe (in rounds 2 and 3).

Resource Management: Players must manage resources to keep their colonists happy, fed, rested, and breathing. This includes powering rooms using power shards to generate resources and trigger special abilities.

Event Cards: The game features event cards in three tiers (green, amber, red) that bring random occurrences, including resources, morale boosts, injuries, or raids.

Objective: The goal is to have the highest reputation at the end of the game to secure a ticket off the planet for your colony, as only one bunker can be rescued.

Player Experience

Arkosa offers a dynamic and varied player experience, with each game being different due to the random drawing of event and raid cards. Players must balance resource production, colonist happiness, and morale while dealing with unexpected events. The game combines strategic planning with a light-hearted and humorous tone, making it engaging and fun. The colorful artwork and comic-style illustrations add to the game’s appeal, creating a visually appealing and immersive environment.

Pros

High Replayability: The game features multiple card decks and dynamic events, ensuring no two games are the same.

Strategic Depth: Players must make complex decisions about resource allocation and colonist management.

Humorous and Light-Hearted: The game’s quirky events and artwork add a lot of humor and charm.

Competitive and Cooperative Elements: Players compete against each other but also face common challenges from the planet’s hostile environment.

Cons

Complex Setup: The initial setup can be time-consuming and complex.

Table Space: The game requires a decent-sized table due to its numerous components.

Learning Curve: The game has multiple mechanics and rules, which can take time to learn.

Personal Thoughts on Arkosa

Arkosa is perfect for fans of the survival genre who enjoy light-hearted, quirky, and humorous games. It is ideal for those who liked the concept of Fallout Shelter but are looking for a tabletop experience. The game’s unique blend of base-building, hand management, and resource conversion makes it a great choice for players who enjoy strategic games with a comedic twist. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer simple, quick games due to its complex setup and multiple mechanics.

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