Horus (2008) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Horus is a board game released in 2008, designed by H. Jean Vanaise and published by Mayfair Games. The game is set in ancient Egypt and revolves around territory building and area majority/influence mechanics. With beautiful artwork by Pete Fenlon and Michael Menzel, Horus offers players a strategic and engaging gameplay experience.

Game Components of Horus

Tiles to build an open-ended map of an ancient Egyptian kingdom

Cards for adding influence to different regions

No fixed game board

How To Setup Horus

Setting up Horus involves creating the map by placing tiles, which will form the various regions of the ancient Egyptian kingdom. Players start by drawing a set of tiles and cards, preparing the foundation for their influence and area control strategies.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players build the map by placing tiles to create regions.

Area Control: Players use cards to add their influence to different regions.

Hand Management: Each card provides two unrelated actions, but players can only choose one action per turn.

Objective: The goal is to gain the most points by having the majority of influence in numerous different terrains surrounding the Nile.

Player Experience

Horus is described as a “gamer’s game” version of Carcassonne, offering a competitive and cutthroat experience. The game mitigates the luck of the draw with a brilliant card mechanism, providing depth without overly complex rules. Despite its initial appearance as a bit dry, Horus packs mean tile placement and area control strategies into a game that lasts less than an hour.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The card mechanism adds depth to the game without complicating it.

Reduced Luck: The game mitigates the luck of the draw, making it more strategy-oriented.

Competitive: It offers a cutthroat and competitive gameplay experience.

Quick Gameplay: The game lasts less than an hour.

Cons

Initial Dryness: The game might appear a bit dry at first glance.

Complexity for New Players: While not overly complex, it may still be challenging for new players to grasp the card mechanisms and strategies.

Personal Thoughts on Horus

Horus is ideal for experienced gamers who enjoy strategic tile placement and area control games. It fixes many of the issues found in Carcassonne, such as luck of the draw and runaway scoring, making it a more engaging and competitive experience. If you’re looking for a game that offers crunchy decisions without too many rules, Horus is a great choice. However, it may not be the best fit for casual or new players due to its strategic complexity.

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