Mount Everest (1980) Board Game

Mount Everest is a board game released in 1980 by Waddington Sanders Ltd. The game is designed for 1-4 players and falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Maze, and Sports. The objective of the game is to climb to the top of Mount Everest while facing various challenges and obstacles along the way.

Game Components of Mount Everest

Game Board: Features a 3D mountain peak, particularly in older versions.

Player Boards: Each player has individual boards to manage guides, equipment, and climbers.

Cards: Represent movement points and risk tokens.

Guides and Climbers: Figures or tokens representing immortal guides and climbers.

Oxygen Tanks and Tents: Equipment that guides can carry.

Weather Tokens: Indicate weather conditions affecting gameplay.

How To Setup Mount Everest

To set up the game, players start by distributing the guides, climbers, and equipment among their player boards. Each player selects a hand of cards that will determine their movement and actions. The game board is prepared with the 3D mountain peak and the initial weather tokens are placed according to the game’s weather forecast mechanism.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Players aim to take climbers to the top of Mount Everest and back down safely, earning victory points for each successful ascent and descent.

Card Play: Players select cards to determine their movement points and risk exposure.

Resource Management: Manage oxygen tanks, tents, and other equipment to keep climbers alive.

Risk Management: Avoid risk tokens that can hinder movement or acclimatization.

Weather Mechanics: Weather conditions affect gameplay, requiring players to plan accordingly.

Player Experience

Playing Mount Everest can be a challenging and thematic experience, focusing on the hazards of climbing the highest mountain in the world. Players must balance the need to ascend quickly with the risks of adverse weather and limited resources. However, the game has been criticized for its luck-based mechanics and limited player interaction, which can make the game feel more like a solo endeavor against the mountain rather than a competitive or cooperative experience with other players.

Pros

Thematic: The game effectively captures the challenges and risks of climbing Mount Everest.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Unique Mechanics: Combines card play and weather forecasting in an interesting way.

Cons

Luck-Based: The game is heavily influenced by card draws and weather, which can feel arbitrary.

Limited Interaction: Players have minimal interaction with each other, which may reduce the social aspect of the game.

Repetitive: The gameplay can become repetitive, especially if players experience consistent bad luck.

Personal Thoughts on Mount Everest

Mount Everest is a game suited for players who enjoy strategic and thematic games, particularly those with an interest in adventure and mountaineering. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking high levels of player interaction or games with less reliance on luck. The game’s unique mechanics and setting make it a compelling choice for those looking for a challenging solo or low-interaction experience.

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