Antarctica (2015) Board Game

Antarctica is a continent located in the southernmost part of the Earth. It is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, mostly covered in ice. Despite its harsh conditions, Antarctica is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales. The continent is also the subject of international treaties that aim to protect its delicate ecosystem.

Game Components of Antarctica

Game board featuring eight Antarctic areas

Ships and ship tokens for each player

Building cards and corresponding wooden buildings

Scientist meeples

Research tracks and markers

Icebreaker cards

Dock cards

Starting buildings for each area

How To Setup Antarctica

Setup involves each player placing their ships on the board in a specific order determined by the number of players. Each area of the board is seeded with starting buildings. The sun token is placed to mark the beginning of the game. The building decks are prepared, and each player receives a set of scientists and other starting resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn Order: Determined by the sun moving counter-clockwise around the board, activating areas and the ships within them.

Ship Movement: Players move their ships to new areas, and other ships in the same area move up in the docking order.

Building: Players build new buildings if they meet the prerequisites listed on the building cards, which often require ships in specific areas with certain buildings.

Research: Players advance on research tracks if they have a research station in their new area.

Resource Management: Players manage scientists, ships, and buildings to control areas and advance on research tracks.

Objective: The game ends when a player places their last scientist or builds the last building. Points are scored based on area control and research progress.

Player Experience

Antarctica offers a unique blend of strategic planning and tactical execution. Players must carefully manage their ships and scientists to build the right buildings and advance on research tracks. The game’s mechanics, such as the sun-driven turn order and the need to have ships in specific areas to build new buildings, create interesting decisions and challenges. However, the game can become cluttered with components, making it visually and tactically complex.

Pros

Unique Turn Order Mechanic: The sun-driven turn order adds a fresh twist to traditional area control games.

Strategic Depth: Building prerequisites and research tracks offer many strategic choices.

High-Quality Components: The game features good component quality, including wooden buildings and detailed cards.

Innovative Scoring: Area and research track scoring mechanisms reward players for majority control and progress.

Cons

Visual Clutter: The board can become very cluttered with buildings, tokens, and meeples.

Complexity: While the actions are simple, the overall game mechanics can be complex and take time to fully understand.

Theme-Mechanic Disconnect: Some players feel the mechanics do not strongly connect to the Antarctic theme.

Rulebook Quality: The rulebook does not do an excellent job of explaining the rules clearly.

Personal Thoughts on Antarctica

Antarctica is for players who enjoy mid-weight euro games with unique mechanics and strategic depth. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate area control and resource management, and who are willing to invest time in understanding the game’s intricacies. While it may not be the best fit for everyone due to its complexity and visual clutter, it offers a rewarding experience for players who enjoy planning and executing complex strategies. If you’re looking for a game that challenges you tactically and strategically, Antarctica is definitely worth considering. However, it’s recommended to try it before committing to a purchase to ensure it aligns with your gaming preferences.

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