Limes (2014) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Limes is a city-building card game designed by Claus Stephan and released in in 2014. The game is designed for 1-2 players and has a runtime of about 20 minutes. It falls under the categories of card game, city building, and puzzle, and incorporates mechanisms such as bingo, pattern building, and tile placement.

Game Components of Limes

2 decks of cards (each player has their own deck)

7 usable characters (meeples)

Watchtowers and other scoring markers

How To Setup Limes

To set up Limes, each player starts with their own deck of cards. One player shuffles their deck and places a card at random on the table; each other player then takes the same card number from their deck. The cards need to be sorted in numerical order before the game begins, which can be a bit tedious but ensures the game flows smoothly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile-Laying: Players place cards from their deck to create a grid.

Area Control: Score points by placing meeples in strategic locations.

Scoring: Points are scored in four different ways:
– Placing meeples in wheat fields.
– Creating large fields to score victory points.
– Using watchtowers to score points by looking out over forests.
– Blocking off areas to prevent opponents from scoring.

Player Experience

Limes offers a engaging and strategic gameplay experience. Players must carefully plan where to place their cards and meeples to maximize their score. The game can be played solo, where the objective is to achieve the best possible score, or with multiple players, each competing against each other. The need to sort the cards in numerical order before each game can be seen as a minor inconvenience but is a necessary step.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Encourages thoughtful planning and strategy.

Versatile: Can be played solo or with multiple players.

Similar to Carcassonne but Unique: Offers a fresh take on tile-laying games.

Simple yet Engaging Mechanics: Easy to learn but challenging to master.

Cons

Card Sorting: The requirement to sort cards in numerical order can be tedious.

Storage: The game comes with two decks, which can take up a fair amount of box space.

Complex Setup: While not overly complex, the setup process can be a bit time-consuming.

Personal Thoughts on Limes

Limes is an excellent choice for fans of tile-laying and area control games. It is particularly suitable for those who enjoy strategic planning and are looking for a game that offers depth without overwhelming complexity. While it may not be as widely known as some other games in its category, Limes provides a unique and engaging experience that is worth exploring. It is ideal for players who appreciate games like Carcassonne but are looking for something slightly different.

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