Minute Realms (2017) Board Game

Minute Realms is a card game that was released in 2017 by DV Games. It is designed by Stefano Castelli and features artwork by Pawel Hordyniak. The game falls under the categories of card game, city building, and medieval themes, with gameplay focused on open drafting and set collection mechanics. Suitable for 2–5 players, with a recommended player count of 3–4, Minute Realms has a short runtime of 15–30 minutes, making it a quick and engaging game for players aged 10 and above.

Game Components of Minute Realms

Cards: These are the core components, including building cards and invader cards.

Player Boards: Each player has a board to build their realm.

Riches Tokens: Used to pay the costs for building cards.

Victory Point Tokens: For tracking points.

How To Setup Minute Realms

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and a starting amount of riches tokens. The deck of cards is shuffled, and a set number of cards are drawn and placed face up within reach of all players. Invader cards are also set aside, ready for the two invasions that will occur during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players draft cards to build their realm.

City Building: Players build up their realm by spending riches tokens.

Invader Battles: Twice during the game, players must fight off invaders.

Victory Points: The objective is to accumulate the most victory points by building valuable structures and successfully defending against invaders.

Player Experience

Playing Minute Realms is a quick and engaging experience. The game is super straightforward: pick a card, pay the costs, build it, and occasionally fight off invaders. The game lasts only a handful of rounds, making it a great filler game. Players need to strategize about which cards to draft and when to use their resources to maximize their points.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: The game is fast-paced and lasts about 20-30 minutes.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to new players.

Strategic Depth: Despite its simplicity, there are meaningful choices to be made.

Compact: It’s one of the most compact city-building games available.

Cons

Limited Replayability: The game’s short duration and straightforward mechanics might limit the number of times you want to play it in one sitting.

Luck of the Draw: Card drafting can be influenced by luck, which might affect player satisfaction.

Personal Thoughts on Minute Realms

Minute Realms is ideal for those looking for a quick, fun, and easy-to-learn game that still offers some strategic depth. It’s perfect for filling gaps between larger games or as an introduction to more complex city-building games. The game’s compact size and short playtime make it a great addition to any board game collection. However, it may not be the best choice for players seeking a highly immersive or complex gaming experience.

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