Through the Desert (1998) Board Game

Through the Desert is an abstract strategy board game designed by Reiner Knizia and first released in in 1998. The game is set in the Arabian desert, where players compete to claim territory and resources using camel pieces in different colors.

Game Components of Through the Desert

Game Board: Depicts a desert enclosed by mountain ranges, with another mountain range in the middle.

Pastel Camels: 34 plastic camels in each of five pastel colors.

Riders: Six riders in one distinct player color for each player, and one gray camel.

Water Hole Tokens: Tokens with hidden values (1-3 points) placed on water holes.

Oasis: Spaces marked with palm trees, worth 5 points each.

Caravan Scoring Markers: 10-point markers for the longest caravan of each color and 5-point markers for ties.

How To Setup Through the Desert

To set up the game, the youngest player is nominated as the starting player. Each player receives six riders in one player color, one camel in each of the five camel colors, and one gray camel. Players then place their caravan leaders on empty spaces on the board, avoiding spaces with water holes, oases, or other caravan leaders. The board is seeded with watering holes and oases before the first camel is placed. For a four or five-player game, the entire board is used, while for two or three players, only the smaller section is used.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turn: Each player places two camels of the same or different colors on the board, adjacent to their caravan leaders of the matching color.

Scoring:

Water Holes: Players score points by placing a camel on top of a water hole token (1-3 points).

Oases: Players score 5 points for placing a camel next to an oasis, with a limit of one oasis per caravan.

Enclosed Areas: Players score points for enclosing areas of the desert, including all water holes and oases within, and one point for each space in the enclosed area.

End of Game: The game ends when the last camel of a single color is placed. Final scoring includes points for the longest caravan of each color and enclosed areas.

Player Experience

Through the Desert offers a simple yet strategically rich experience. Players must balance the need to connect their caravans to valuable oases and water holes while also trying to enclose large areas of the desert to maximize points. The game encourages strategic thinking and a bit of mischief, as players can block their opponents’ routes to gain an advantage.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to new players.

Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, the game offers a lot of strategic depth, similar to games like Go.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for families and gamers alike, with a playtime of 20-45 minutes.

Interactive: Encourages player interaction and competition.

Cons

Limited Randomness: The game has no elements of chance, which may not appeal to players who enjoy randomness.

Repetitive Turns: Each turn involves placing two camels, which can become repetitive for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Through the Desert

Through the Desert is an excellent choice for those who enjoy strategic placement and area control games. It is particularly suitable for families and new gamers due to its easy-to-learn rules, but it also offers enough depth to engage experienced gamers. The game’s short setup and playtime make it a great addition to any game collection, and its lack of randomness ensures that victories are earned through strategy rather than luck.

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