Moon (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Moon is a science fiction board game released in 2023, designed by Haakon Gaarder and published by Sinister Fish Games. The game takes players on a space exploration adventure on the moon, where they must strategically plan their missions and manage their resources to succeed.

Game Components of Moon

Base cards with unique starting resources

Player Aid cards

Two Rovers per player

Yellow production cards

Blue resource cards

Grey scoring cards

Yellow Flag cards

Pink Ability cards

Expedition cards

Flag Reward board

Heart tokens

Wooden Rover tokens (in the Deluxe Edition)

Storage boxes and token trays (in the Deluxe Edition).

How To Setup Moon

To set up Moon, each player receives a Base card, a Player Aid card, and two Rovers. One player takes the First Player Expedition card, chosen based on who has the loudest voice or another suitable method. Ensure the correct Expedition card is used based on the player count. The game is ready to start once these initial steps are completed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Production Phase: Players produce resources shown on their Yellow cards.

Construction Phase: Players draft cards from the Era Structure deck, choosing to Build or Assimilate cards. Building requires meeting resource and Flag requirements, while Assimilating provides a small boon.

Scoring Phase: Players score Flag bonuses based on who has the most of each Flag type. Hearts earned from Flag rewards and card abilities are tallied.

Objective: The goal is to earn the most Hearts by the end of three Eras, through building a robust moon base, managing resources, and maximizing Flag bonuses.

Player Experience

Playing Moon feels incredibly satisfying due to its rapid engine building and resource development. The game offers a sense of immediate progress, with all players building something substantial by the end. The “pick & pass” mechanism, where players pass hands of cards to the left, adds a social and interactive element, encouraging strategic planning and competition over Flag dominance.

Pros

Quick Engine Building: Resources and Flags ramp up quickly, making each round engaging.

Strategic Depth: Despite being easy to learn, Moon offers crunchy decisions and strategic complexity.

Interactive Mechanics: The use of Rovers and Expedition cards adds a layer of player interaction and competition.

Thematic Design: The game’s theme of lunar base-building is well-integrated with its mechanics.

Deluxe Edition: Includes all-wooden components and premium finishing, enhancing the game’s appeal.

Cons

Limited Rounds: The game is confined to three Eras, which might feel short for some players.

Initial Complexity: While the game is generally easy to learn, new players might need some time to grasp all the mechanics and strategies.

Personal Thoughts on Moon

Moon is ideal for fans of card drafting and engine building games who appreciate strategic depth without overwhelming complexity. It is suitable for players who enjoy competitive games with a social element and those who find joy in building and managing resources. The game’s thematic illustrations and light-hearted touches, such as drive-in theaters and taco stands on the moon, add a delightful layer of fun to the overall experience. If you enjoy games like Fantastic Factories or 7 Wonders, Moon is definitely worth considering.

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