Daybreak (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Daybreak’ is a cooperative board game designed by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace. It was released in 2023 by CMYK and features artwork by Mads Berg. The game’s theme revolves around climate change and players work together to manage resources and combat environmental challenges.

Game Components of Daybreak

Main board

Player boards and reference cards for each world power (USA, China, Europe, Majority World)

Global Project cards

Local Project cards with various tags

Energy demand tokens

Dirty energy, clean energy, and emissions tokens

Resilience and community in crisis tokens

Carbon cubes

Temperature bands and thermometer

Tree and ocean tokens

Planetary effect tokens and die

Crisis cards

Board extenders

How To Setup Daybreak

To set up Daybreak, begin by laying out the main board in the central playing area. Place the current round token on the first space of the round tracker. Set up the planetary effect tokens and temperature bands on the board. Distribute the tree and ocean tokens based on the player count. Each player selects a world power, taking the corresponding reference card and board. Players then prepare their player boards by adding starting local project cards, energy demand tokens, and other necessary tokens as indicated on their reference cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together to save the planet.

Card-Driven Mechanics: Players use Global Project and Local Project cards to manage resources and reduce emissions.

Resource Management: Manage energy demand and supply to avoid community crises.

Emissions Phase: Calculate and add carbon emissions to the board, affecting global temperature.

Crisis Stage: Resolve Crisis cards and planetary effects, which can negatively impact players.

Growth Stage: Increase energy demand each round to reflect growing populations and consumption.

Objective: Reach “Draw Down” where more greenhouse gases are removed than added, while surviving final Crisis card effects.

Player Experience

Daybreak offers a highly interactive and cooperative experience where players must collaborate to achieve the game’s objective. The game is known for its steep learning curve, but the collaborative nature allows players to help each other learn as they go. The sense of camaraderie is strong, uniting players against the challenges posed by the game. Each game can be quite tense, with the risk of losing if the global temperature rises too high or if too many communities are in crisis.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and strategy among players.

Realistic Theme: Addresses the pressing issue of climate change in an engaging manner.

High Replayability: Variable card draws and different starting conditions ensure unique games.

Educational Value: Teaches players about the importance of reducing carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: Initial games can be lengthy and confusing for new players.

Randomness: The game can be punishing if players do not receive favorable card draws.

Lengthy Games: Games can take up to 2 hours, especially for new players.

Personal Thoughts on Daybreak

Daybreak is perfect for those interested in cooperative games and environmental themes. It is designed for players aged 10+, making it a great option for families or groups looking to engage in a meaningful and challenging game. While it may not be the easiest game to pick up, the sense of achievement and the important message it conveys make it a worthwhile investment for any board game enthusiast. If you enjoyed games like Pandemic, Terraforming Mars, or Wingspan, you will likely find Daybreak to be an engaging and thought-provoking addition to your game collection.

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.