Skyward (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Skyward is a card game released in 2017 and designed by Ellie Jang, Dmitriy Logunkov, Neil Martin, and Steven Preston. It is published by Rule & Make and falls under the category of a card game with mechanics such as hand management, I cut, you choose, open drafting, and set collection. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a runtime of 30-45 minutes and is suitable for players aged 12 and above.

Game Components of Skyward

Building cards: Represent structures to be built, each with a cost and victory points, and some with special effects.

Faction cards: Act as currency to pay for launching buildings.

Vehicle cards: Worth bonus points and do not occupy airspace.

Critters: Include pigeons (worth negative points) and jetpack-riding Rocket Cats (scare away pigeons).

Cog tokens: Wild currency for launching structures.

Warden token: Determines the lead player and provides a free cog token.

How To Setup Skyward

To set up Skyward, players start by shuffling the card deck. The lead player, known as the Warden, draws a number of cards based on the player count. These cards are then sorted into piles equal to the number of players, including the Warden token. Each player takes a pile, setting the stage for the drafting mechanism.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Drafting: Players take turns drawing and dividing cards.

Tableau Building: Players build their airspace by launching buildings and adding vehicles and critters.

Resource Management: Players use faction cards and cog tokens to launch buildings.

Game Objective

Build structures and accumulate victory points.

Manage resources effectively to launch buildings and add vehicles and critters.

End the game with the most victory points, either by milling through the structures deck or when a player has 6 structures in their airspace.

Player Experience

Skyward offers a smooth and satisfying gameplay experience, especially with two players. The drafting mechanism works well at this player count, allowing for strategic planning and execution. However, with more players, the game becomes increasingly complex and time-consuming, making it a miserable slog due to the overwhelming number of cards to process and the rapid depletion of the deck.

Pros

Two-Player Compatibility: Works exceptionally well with two players, a rarity for drafting games.

Simple Yet Strategic Gameplay: Easy to learn but challenging to master.

Unique Theme and Art: Attractive art and an engaging aerial city theme.

Synergistic Structures: Building combinations can lead to significant point gains.

Cons

Complexity at Higher Player Counts: Becomes unwieldy and time-consuming with more than two players.

Deck Depletion: Faster deck depletion at higher player counts limits strategic opportunities.

Theme Impact: The theme, while attractive, does not significantly impact gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Skyward

Skyward is ideal for players looking for a straightforward yet strategically rich game, particularly those who enjoy card drafting and tableau building. It shines with two players, making it a great addition for couples or pairs of friends. However, it may not be the best choice for larger groups due to its complexity and lengthy gameplay at higher player counts. If you’re a fan of games with unique themes and simple, satisfying mechanics, Skyward is worth considering, but be prepared for a potentially frustrating experience with more players.

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