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Earth (2023) Board Game

ByMichail

Earth is a board game released in 2023 by Inside Up Games. Designed by Maxime Tardif, Earth falls into categories such as Animals, Card Game, Educational, and Environmental. With a focus on hand management, pattern building, and contracts, Earth aims to provide players with an engaging and educational gameplay experience.

Game Components of Earth

  • 364 unique cards:** Including Flora, Terrain, Island, Climate, Ecosystem, and Event cards, many of which are double-sided.
  • Player boards:** Each player has a board for their Island, Climate, Ecosystem cards, and Compost pile.
  • Soil and plant cubes:** Used as resources and for scoring points.
  • Growth Pieces:** Added to cards to enhance their abilities and score points.
  • Fauna and Ecosystem cards:** Provide public and private goals for scoring points.
  • Center board:** Holds Fauna cards and Ecosystem cards.

    How To Setup Earth

    To set up Earth, each player receives a player board, an Island card, a Climate card, and an Ecosystem card. The Island and Climate cards are double-sided, allowing players to choose their starting resources and abilities. Players also start with a Compost pile and initial cards. The center board is set up with Fauna cards and Ecosystem cards. The game deck is shuffled, and each player draws a starting hand of cards. The game is ready to begin once all players have their starting resources and cards in place.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Actions:** Players can choose from four actions: Planting, Composting, Watering, or Growing. Each action allows the active player to perform a full action, while other players take a lesser version of the same action.
  • Card Activation:** Cards in the tableau activate based on the color of the chosen action. Players activate their cards from top to bottom, left to right.
  • Resource Management:** Players manage soil, plant cubes, and Growth Pieces to add cards to their tableau and enhance their abilities.
  • Fauna and Ecosystem Goals:** Players work towards fulfilling conditions on Fauna and Ecosystem cards to score points.
  • Game End:** The game ends when a player completes their 4×4 grid with played cards. Points are scored from cards, Growth Pieces, plant cubes, and fulfilled goals.

    Player Experience

    Earth offers a highly engaging and strategic experience with minimal downtime. Players are constantly involved, either taking their main action or the lesser follow-up action. The game is praised for its high variability due to the large number of unique cards, ensuring a different experience each time. However, the complexity and the need to track multiple elements can make it challenging, especially for casual gamers.

    Pros

  • High Variability:** With 364 unique cards, the game offers a new experience each time it is played.
  • Zero Downtime:** Simultaneous play mechanics keep all players engaged throughout the game.
  • Strategic Depth:** Multiple paths to victory and complex card interactions provide a rich strategic experience.
  • Thematic Integration:** The game beautifully combines nature’s charm with clever mechanics.

    Cons

  • Complexity:** The game requires significant setup and can be overwhelming due to the numerous cards and rules.
  • Accounting and Tracking:** Scoring and tracking all the elements can be daunting and time-consuming.
  • Lack of Direct Interaction:** The game is largely multiplayer solitaire, with minimal direct interaction between players.

    Personal Thoughts on Earth

    Earth is ideal for fans of midweight strategy games, particularly those who enjoy tableau building and engine building mechanics. It is akin to games like Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, and Ark Nova, but with its own unique twists. The game is best suited for groups of experienced gamers who can handle the complexity and are looking for a game with high replayability. However, it may not be the best fit for casual game nights due to its intricate rules and high maintenance requirements.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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