Caverna: Cave vs Cave (2017) Board Game

Caverna: Cave vs Cave is a two-player board game released in 2017, designed by Uwe Rosenberg and published by Lookout Games. It falls under the categories of Economic, Fantasy, and Farming games, with players engaging in tile placement and worker placement mechanics to build their own caves.

Game Components of Caverna: Cave vs Cave

1 action board

2 player boards

12 action tiles

24 room tiles

12 resource markers (8 wood, 4 paper)

1 additional cavern tile

7 walls

4 action markers

1 start player marker

1 rule book.

How To Setup Caverna: Cave vs Cave

To set up the game, each player receives a cave board and covers all the spaces except the cave entrance and the indicated space with excavation tiles. Players begin with one of each resource. The action track is set up with the starting actions revealed, and the 2, 3, and 4 action tiles face-down and randomized by type. The six basic cavern tiles are placed in the center of the table. One player is designated as the starting player and begins the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Conversion: Players convert resources to perform various actions.

Action Selection: Players compete for available action tiles to cut out new caverns, bring up walls, and furnish rooms.

Excavation: Clearing rock to make rooms available for purchase.

Room Placement: Each room has a cost in resources, placement restrictions, and provides victory points and unique actions.

Resource Management: Managing resources to pay for actions and collecting precious metals for wealth.

Game Objective: The player with the most victory points, earned through furnished caverns and gold, wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing **Caverna: Cave vs Cave** involves a tight competition between two dwarven tribes, each trying to outdo the other in excavating and furnishing their caverns. The game requires strategic planning and optimization of limited actions, as players must balance resource collection, room placement, and action selection. The game’s design ensures that players feel the pressure of missing out on crucial actions due to their opponent’s choices, creating a tense and engaging experience. The game also includes a solitaire mode with minimal rule changes, maintaining the core gameplay mechanics.

Pros

Challenging and Satisfying Efficiency Puzzle: Players must optimize their actions to maximize points.

Replayability: Driven by the random shuffling of tiles and the different order of room availability.

Good for Both Solitaire and Two-Player Play: A solid option for both solo and competitive gameplay.

Tactical Depth: Requires strategic thinking and adaptation to opponents’ moves.

Cons

Limited Variety: Every tile is included in every game, though player actions and timing add replayability.

High Cognitive Complexity: Players must remember and optimize the effects of multiple actions and room abilities.

Frustration Potential: Mistakes and unavailability of crucial actions can be costly and frustrating.

Personal Thoughts on Caverna: Cave vs Cave

**Caverna: Cave vs Cave** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic, resource-management games and are fans of Uwe Rosenberg’s design style. It is particularly suited for those looking for a challenging two-player experience or a robust solitaire game. While it may lack the variety seen in some other games, the game’s focus on efficiency puzzles and competitive action selection makes it a compelling choice for those who enjoy optimizing their gameplay. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a highly thematic or visually rich game, as the components are somewhat Spartan and the game can feel quite abstract at times.

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