Dreamscape (2019) Board Game

Dreamscape’ is a board game designed by David Ausloos and released in 2019 by Sylex. The game falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Fantasy, and Puzzle, offering players a unique and immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Dreamscape

Dreamshards: Representing fragments of dreams.

Cards: Featuring various dream types and actions.

Numbered tokens: Used to represent the cost of cards.

Deep Sleep Stack and REM Stack: For managing and scoring dream cards.

Sleep Deck: The central deck from which players draw cards.

Lair of the Clockwork Golem: One of the mysterious locations where dreamshards are collected.

How To Setup Dreamscape

Setup involves shuffling the Sleep Deck and giving each player one Z card, which remains face down and represents their Deep Sleep Stack. The remaining cards are stacked in the center of the table with a space for a face-up discard pile. Numbered tokens are placed below the dreamscape cards to indicate their cost, starting from 5. Each player also has a REM stack, which is their scoring pile.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Set collection card game.

Mechanics: Card drafting, set collection, and resource management.

Designer: Sarah Reed.

Objective: Players aim to build the longest chains of dream types in their REM stack to score the most points.

Turn Phases:

Deep Sleep Accumulation: Collect Z cards from the Sleep Deck.

Direct Your Sleep: Buy cards from the Dreamscape using Z cards and perform their actions.

Prepare for Next Participant: Refill the Dreamscape and manage card placement.

Player Experience

Dreamscape offers a creative and strategic gameplay experience. Players must balance collecting Z cards for currency and buying dream cards to build their REM stack. The game features multi-use cards, allowing for double the number of options in a small deck. This mechanic encourages planning and tactical card buying to achieve the best action combos. The game also includes a full expansion deck and solo play rules, adding to its versatility.

Pros

Interesting Mechanics: Dual-use cards and strategic resource management.

Lots of Variation: Includes expansion deck and solo play rules.

Engaging Theme: Unique and imaginative dream-building theme.

Excellent Components: High-quality game components.

Cons

Not Great Above 2 Players: The game’s charm and effectiveness diminish with more than two players.

Personal Thoughts on Dreamscape

Dreamscape is ideal for players who enjoy set collection games and are looking for a unique, strategic experience. It is particularly suited for solo or two-player games, where its creative mechanics and thematic depth shine. While it may not be as engaging with more players, it offers a fun and short gameplay session that is perfect for those who appreciate a mix of strategy and whimsy. If you’re looking for a game that combines clever card management with a dash of imagination, Dreamscape is certainly worth considering.

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