Excavation Earth is a board game released in 2021 by Mighty Boards. Designed by Gordon Calleja, Dávid Turczi, and Wai Yee, the game takes place in a science fiction setting where players act as alien races competing to excavate artifacts from Earth. The game combines economic elements with hand management and area control mechanics, providing a unique and immersive gaming experience.
Game Components of Excavation Earth
Artifact tilesBio cardsMarket cardsBuyer cardsInitiative tokensMothership boardCommander cardsColored meeplesWild meeplesCrew cubesPlayer boardsMain board.
How To Setup Excavation Earth
Setting up the game involves several steps:
Separate and shuffle the artifact tiles by color and lay them face down off the board.Reveal three or four artifacts based on the player count and place them into matching spaces on the board.Place colored meeples into their respective tracks on the buyer board.Fill the market queue on the main board by shuffling the buyer cards and drawing the necessary number.Each player places two of their three explorers onto the first and fourth market spaces on the top left and top middle of the board.On the first turn, players place their remaining explorer before taking any other actions.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Excavate: Discard a card matching the region’s color to remove artifacts from the board and move them to your player board.Survey: Discard a card to influence the color of artifacts added to the board in the next round.Market Manipulation: Deploy traders in markets and manipulate market prices to sell artifacts at the right time for the highest profit.Set Collection: Complete themed sets of artifacts for your collection and work the black market to grab elusive artifacts.Objective: Collect and curate the most valuable collection of artifacts to earn the most points.
Player Experience
Playing **Excavation Earth** offers a deep and engaging experience with high player interaction. The game balances simplicity in teaching with complex decisions each turn. Players must manage their cards carefully, strategize about market prices, and aim to complete sets of artifacts. The game’s unique blend of excavation, market manipulation, and set collection keeps players engaged and challenges them to think ahead.
Pros
High Production Value: Beautiful artwork and high-quality components.Deep Strategy: Offers complex decision-making despite a streamlined rule-set.Strong Theme: Engaging sci-fi theme with a unique twist on artifact collection.High Replayability: Multiple paths to victory and variable setup ensure different experiences each game.
Cons
Setup Time: Can take about 10 to 20 minutes to set up the game.Complexity: While the rules are straightforward, the game mechanics can be challenging for new players.Luck Element: Card draws and market fluctuations can introduce elements of luck that may affect strategy.
Personal Thoughts on Excavation Earth
**Excavation Earth** is perfect for fans of eurogames and strategy enthusiasts. It is ideal for players who enjoy complex decision-making and market manipulation. The game’s unique theme and high production values make it a standout in any board game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity and setup time. For those willing to invest time and strategy, **Excavation Earth** offers a highly rewarding gaming experience.
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