Babylonia (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

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 10×17 layout of hexagonal spaces, stylized as a map of the Neo-Babylonian empire, including two rivers and three separate land masses.

Tokens: 18 noble tiles (6 each of merchants, civil servants, and press) and 12 farmer tokens per 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 that bend the normal rules of gameplay.

How To Setup Babylonia

To set up **Babylonia**, start by placing the board in the middle of the playing area. Randomly seed the 19 city tiles and 13 crop tiles onto their designated hexagons on the board. Each player receives a set of tokens (18 noble tiles and 12 farmer tokens). Players draw a hand of five tokens to begin their turn.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: On your turn, you can either place 3 or more farmer tokens face up on a land hex or place any two tokens (which may include face-down tokens on river hexes).

Scoring:

Ziggurats: Score 1 point for each ziggurat you have a token adjacent to.

Cities: When a city tile is surrounded, the player with the most tokens adjacent to the city scores 2 points for each of their tokens matching the city tile’s symbols. The player with the majority claims the city tile.

Crop Tiles: Farmers can claim crop tiles if a noble token is adjacent, scoring points depicted on the tile or 1 point for each claimed city tile.

Special Power Tiles: When a ziggurat is surrounded, the player with the most tokens adjacent claims a special power tile.

Game End: The game ends when a player places their last token or when there are fewer than two city tiles remaining.

Player Experience

**Babylonia** is a game that demands strategic thinking and adaptability. Each turn, players must balance immediate scoring opportunities with long-term network building and territorial control. The game is known for its simplicity in rules but depth in strategy, making it challenging yet rewarding. Players need to think on their feet, as the game state changes radically with each placement. It is particularly noteworthy for its ability to scale well between 2 and 4 players, offering different complexities in each scenario.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Despite simple rules, the game offers deep strategic gameplay.

High Replayability: Random placement of city and crop tiles ensures each game is unique.

Quick Playtime: Games typically last 30-45 minutes.

Scalability: Excellent scaling between 2 and 4 players.

Improvisational Thinking: Encourages astute improvisational thinking and adaptation.

Cons

Random Token Draw: The random draw of tokens can introduce elements of luck.

Poor Component Design: Lack of proper inserts, bags for tokens, and poorly designed stands.

Complex Scoring: Scoring can be complex, especially with multiple players.

Theme Resonance: The historical theme is not strongly integrated into the gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Babylonia

**Babylonia** is ideal for fans of abstract and area control games, particularly those who enjoy the works of Reiner Knizia. It is a game that rewards strategic thinking and long-term planning, making it a great addition to any board game collection for players looking for a challenge. While it may not be the best fit for those seeking a strongly thematic experience, it excels in its mechanical depth and replayability. If you enjoy games like **Samurai** or **Through the Desert**, **Babylonia** is definitely worth exploring.

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