Hamlet: The Village Building Game (2022) Board Game

Hamlet: The Village Building Game is a city-building board game released in 2022 by Mighty Boards. Designed by David Chircop and featuring artwork by Yusuf Artun, the game is set in a medieval village where players compete to build the most prosperous settlement.

Game Components of Hamlet: The Village Building Game

Irregular shaped tiles for village construction

Worker meeples

Donkey tokens

Resource tokens (goods like timber, bricks, etc.)

Landmark tiles

Market and Church tiles

Roads and path tiles

Coin tokens

Player boards for tracking progress

How To Setup Hamlet: The Village Building Game

To set up the game, begin by placing the initial village tiles, which include the Market and Town Hall. Each player selects their starting worker meeples and places them on the board. The resource tokens, landmark tiles, and other components are placed within reach of all players. The game starts with a “sleepy village” scenario where players must gradually build up their resources and actions.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Tile Placement: Players add tiles to the village, connecting them organically without a grid.

Worker Placement: Players use their worker meeples to perform actions such as resource gathering, refining, and delivering goods.

Engine Building: Players build their action capacity by hiring additional workers and acquiring donkeys for resource transport.

Communal Resources: Resources are shared among players, fostering an “emergent economy.”

Game Objective

The primary objective is to score the most points by contributing to the village’s growth. Points are earned through:

Building roads and paths

Constructing new buildings and landmarks

Delivering goods to the market

Contributing to the church construction

Player Experience

In *Hamlet: The Village Building Game*, players start with limited actions, gradually expanding their capabilities by hiring more workers and acquiring donkeys. The game has a slow start, with the initial turns focusing on resource gathering and worker recruitment. As the game progresses, players engage in more complex strategies, such as optimizing resource use and building new structures. The communal resource system creates a dynamic where players must adapt to the changing board state and resource availability.

Pros

Dynamic Board: Each game features a unique village setup due to the irregular shaped tiles.

Emergent Economy: The shared resource system encourages strategic thinking and adaptation.

Variety of Actions: Players have multiple ways to score points and contribute to the village.

Thematic Engagement: The game creates a vivid sense of building a community and interacting with other players.

Cons

Slow Start: The initial turns can feel repetitive as players follow a standard sequence to acquire additional workers.

Visual Clutter: The board can become cluttered with resources and tiles, making it hard to plan ahead.

Game Length: The game can drag on as players navigate the complex board state and resource management.

Landmark Tile Overload: The high number of landmark tiles can dilute the pool of useful tiles, affecting game tempo.

Personal Thoughts on Hamlet: The Village Building Game

*Hamlet: The Village Building Game* is ideal for players who enjoy medium-weight strategy games with a strong focus on resource management and engine building. While it offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer quick-paced games or are easily frustrated by visual clutter and lengthy game sessions. The game excels at creating a sense of community and village growth, making it a great choice for those who appreciate thematic depth and strategic complexity.

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