Kingdomino Origins (2021) Board Game

Kingdomino Origins is a standalone prehistoric-themed sequel to the popular board game Kingdomino. Designed by Bruno Cathala and published by Blue Orange Games in 2021, this game takes players back in time to the era of dinosaurs and cavemen. With its unique artwork by Cyril Bouquet, Kingdomino Origins offers a fresh take on the original game while maintaining the beloved tile-laying and city-building mechanics.

Game Components of Kingdomino Origins

48 terrain domino-like tiles

8 meeples (2 of each color)

49 resource tokens

10 volcano fire tokens

4 starting tiles

22 caveman tiles

Mammoth tokens and other additional markers[5>.

How To Setup Kingdomino Origins

To set up the game, players start by placing their starting tiles. Each player chooses a starting tile and places it on the table. The domino tiles are then shuffled and arranged in columns. Players select their meeples and place them on the tiles they wish to claim. For a 2-player game, players can choose to build a 5×5 or a 7×7 grid, while 3-4 player games use a 5×5 grid.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Drafting: Players claim tiles by placing their meeples on the desired tiles.

Tile Placement: Claimed tiles must touch the starting tile or match an existing terrain type.

Volcano Mechanic: Volcanoes erupt, adding fire tokens to neighboring regions, which can increase or decrease points.

Caveman Tiles: These tiles provide bonus scoring if specific conditions are met.

Objective: The goal is to build a kingdom by creating contiguous regions and scoring points based on the number of fires and matching terrain types.

Player Experience

**Kingdomino Origins** offers a familiar yet fresh experience for those who have played the original **Kingdomino**. The game is easy to learn and teach, making it a solid introduction to gaming or a gateway game. The addition of volcanoes and caveman tiles introduces new strategic layers, especially in variant plays. The game is balanced well across different player counts and can be played quickly in about 20-30 minutes.

Pros

Easy to teach and learn

Quick gameplay

Solid 2-player adaptations

Incremental increases in strategy options

Attractive and satisfying components

Clear instructions and good table presence.

Cons

May feel too similar to the original **Kingdomino** for some players

Volcano mechanic can have mixed effects on gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Kingdomino Origins

**Kingdomino Origins** is ideal for families and new gamers looking to grow into more complex games. It offers a fun, prehistoric-themed twist on the original **Kingdomino**, with the volcano and caveman mechanics adding a new layer of strategy. While it might not revolutionize the gameplay of the original, it is a great option for those seeking a bit more complexity and variety in their tile-laying games. It is particularly recommended for families who want a game that can scale with their children’s growing gaming skills.

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