Babylonia (2019) Board Game
Babylonia is a strategic board game designed by renowned game designer Reiner Knizia and published by Ludonova in in 2019. Set in ancient Mesopotamia, players take on the roles of rulers competing to build the most prosperous cities along the banks of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
## Game Components of Babylonia
– **Board**: A stylized map of the Neo-Babylonian empire with a 10×17 layout of hexagonal spaces, including two rivers and separate land masses.
– **Tokens**: 18 noble tokens (merchants, civil servants, and priests) and 12 farmer tokens for each player.
– **City Tiles**: 19 city tiles with symbols of one or two nobles.
– **Crop Tiles**: 13 crop fields.
– **Ziggurat Hexagons**: 5 ziggurat hexagons.
– **Special Power Tiles**: Bonus tiles associated with ziggurats.
## How To Setup Babylonia
To set up the game, randomly place the city tiles and crop fields on designated hexagons on the board. Each player receives a set of noble and farmer tokens. The game starts with each player having a hand of five tokens.
## Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
– **Token Placement**: Players place either two tokens (any type) or three or more farmer tokens on the board per turn. Tokens can be placed on land or, in some cases, on rivers.
– **City Control**: Surround cities with tokens to gain control. The player with the majority of tokens around a city claims the city tile and scores points.
– **Ziggurat Scoring**: Place tokens next to ziggurats to score points equal to the number of ziggurats adjacent to the tokens. Surrounding a ziggurat grants a bonus power tile.
– **Crop Tiles**: Place farmers on crop tiles to claim them and score points based on the number of cities claimed.
– **Objective**: The player with the most points, earned through controlling cities, ziggurats, and crop tiles, wins the game.
## Player Experience
Playing **Babylonia** involves strategic planning and adaptability. Each turn, players must decide between expanding their network, capturing cities, or securing ziggurat powers. The game scales well from 2 to 4 players, with two-player games focusing on territorial control and multiplayer games introducing complexities like temporary alliances. The game requires astute improvisational thinking and a deep understanding of spatial and territorial relationships.
### Pros
– **Deep Strategy**: Offers rich and challenging gameplay with multiple scoring paths.
– **Scalability**: Scales well from 2 to 4 players, providing different experiences.
– **Short Playtime**: Games typically last 30-45 minutes.
– **High Replayability**: Random placement of city and crop tiles ensures different games each time.
### Cons
– **Steep Learning Curve**: Initial games may be played poorly as players grasp the strategy.
– **Simple but Crunchy Mechanics**: May feel archaic compared to modern board games.
– **Production Quality Issues**: Lack of proper insert, bags for tokens, and poor design of stands.
## Personal Thoughts on Babylonia
**Babylonia** is ideal for fans of abstract and area control games, particularly those who enjoy Reiner Knizia’s designs. It is a game that requires strategic thinking and adaptability, making it suitable for both family gaming sessions and hardcore gamers. While it may not have a strong thematic resonance, its gameplay mechanics and depth make it a standout in its genre. If you enjoy games that challenge your strategic thinking and offer high replayability, **Babylonia** is a great addition to your library.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.
