Mining Colony (2021) Board Game

Mining Colony is a space exploration and territory building board game designed by Marius Janusonis and published in in 2021. The game takes players on a journey to colonize a new planet and mine valuable resources while competing against other players to establish dominance.

Game Components of Mining Colony

Resource cards

Excavation cards

Development tiles (polyominoes) of various shapes

Crystals in four different colors

Science stations and outposts

Ships and workers

Colony boards (double-sided)

Build-over tokens

Credits

How To Setup Mining Colony

To set up the game, start by placing the central board in the middle of the table. Separate the development tiles by type and stack them in their dedicated spaces. Randomize the tokens by shuffling each stack. Prepare the resource cards for each round and place them to the right side of the main board. Create supplies for the different resources, including crystals, science stations, outposts, ships, and workers. Each player takes a colony board and the corresponding excavation cards, which are shuffled and placed next to the colony board facing downwards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Phases: The game is played over ten rounds, each consisting of three phases – Discover, Excavate, and Develop.

Discover: A resource card is flipped, dictating which new resources are added to the main board.

Excavate: Players use their excavation cards to compete for the resources.

Develop: Players place the new resources on their personal board in the most efficient way.

Game Objective: In competitive mode, players score points by creating the best mining colony with various resources, people, and ships. In solo mode, the player competes against a dummy player to complete their colony. The goal is to build 7 structures and fill the board.

Player Experience

Playing Mining Colony involves strategic planning and resource management. Players must carefully bid on resources using their excavation cards, ensuring they secure the most valuable options. The game challenges players to efficiently place development tiles and resources on their colony board, navigating the constraints of polyominoe shapes and limited space. The solo mode adds an extra layer of challenge as players compete against a dummy player.

Pros

Component Quality: Excellent component quality with a compact play space.

Strategic Decisions: Interesting decisions involving calculated risks with high initiative cards.

Accomplishing Goals: Placing the right resources to construct structures feels like an accomplishment.

Challenging Placement: Filling the board with tiles is challenging and fun.

Compact Play Space: The game doesn’t spread out much from the setup space.

Cons

Similar Crystal Colors: Some crystal colors are hard to distinguish, especially on the orange background.

Optimal Solution: There may be a fairly optimal solution, reducing long-term challenge.

Luck in Solo Mode: Solo difficulty levels rely on paying more for certain elements, introducing luck as a factor.

Polyominoe Management: Keeping polyominoes stacked and shuffling them can be tedious.

Personal Thoughts on Mining Colony

Mining Colony is ideal for those who enjoy tile-laying games and strategic resource management. It is a great fit for players looking for a game that challenges their planning and organizational skills, all within a relatively short playtime of about 40 minutes. While it may appeal more to fans of puzzle-like games, it also offers a competitive edge for those who enjoy competing to build the best colony. However, the solo mode’s reliance on luck and the potential for an optimal solution might reduce its replay value for some players.

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