After Us (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

After Us is a board game released in 2023 by Catch Up Games. Designed by Florian Sirieix and illustrated by Vincent Dutrait, the game falls under the categories of Animals, Card Game, Puzzle, and Science Fiction. With a playing time of 40-60 minutes, After Us is suitable for 1-6 players aged 12 and up.

Game Components of After Us

Cards: Each card features three rows of effects and powers, with open and closed frames that need to be aligned to maximize benefits.

Special Object Tiles: Seven tiles are available, with three drawn randomly at the start of each game, introducing rule changes and requiring energy to use.

Tokens: Customized wooden tokens for resources and screen-printed tokens for players.

Main Board and Player Boards: Made from thick cardboard.

Artwork: Visually appealing with vibrant colors by Vincent Dutrait.

How To Setup After Us

To set up After Us, players start by drawing three random special object tiles and placing them on the table. Each player receives a starting deck of cards. The game is ready to begin in about 2 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Assembling The Tribe: Players draw four cards from their deck and arrange them to close frames and maximize benefits.

Attracting New Apes: Players can add new cards to their deck by secretly choosing tokens indicating the desired card type.

Resting: Players discard their cards and prepare for the next round.

Objective: The goal is to be the first player to reach 80 points by efficiently managing resources and arranging cards to activate the right effects.

Player Experience

After Us is a relatively quick game, lasting about 40-60 minutes, and is described as a multiplayer solitaire experience. There is no direct player interaction; each player focuses solely on their own deck and resources. The game requires thoughtful management of resources, strategic card arrangement, and the use of special object tiles to enhance gameplay. While the gameplay can be engaging, some players may find the lack of interaction and repetitive nature of the game a drawback.

Pros

Beautiful Artwork: The game features vibrant and visually appealing artwork.

Puzzle of Arranging Cards: The card mechanics offer a challenging and enjoyable puzzle to solve.

Quick Play Time: Games are completed in under an hour.

Scalability: Supports up to six players seamlessly.

Cons

No Player Interaction: The game is highly solitary, which may not appeal to all players.

Repetition: The gameplay can become repetitive.

No Tie-Breaker: In the event of a tie, players share the victory.

Luck Element: Drawing cards blindly introduces an element of luck that some players may not enjoy.

Personal Thoughts on After Us

After Us is ideal for players who enjoy deck-building and resource management games with a unique card arrangement mechanic. It is perfect for those who appreciate puzzles and strategic planning without needing direct player interaction. However, if you are looking for a game with high player interaction or a strong thematic experience, After Us might not be the best fit. Despite its solitary nature, the game offers a fun and challenging experience that can be enjoyed by a wide range of players.

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