Naturopolis (2023) Board Game

Naturopolis is a card game released in 2023 by Button Shy. It is designed by Steven Aramini, Danny Devine, and Paul Kluka, with artwork by Marty Cobb and Danny Devine. The game falls under the categories of card game, print & play, and territory building, with mechanics such as closed drafting, cooperative play, layering, solo/solitaire mode, and tile placement.

Game Components of Naturopolis

18 cards, each featuring a quadrant of different biomes (forests, meadows, mountains, lakes) and elements like rivers, roads, and campsites.

Each card has a landscape side and a scoring objective side.

Three Scoring Condition cards drawn at the start of the game.

How To Setup Naturopolis

To set up Naturopolis, shuffle the 18-card deck and draw three cards, placing them objective-side up to indicate the unique scoring mechanisms for the game. Deal three cards to the first player and one card to any additional players. Flip the top card of the deck to start the game. The initial three cards set the stage for the game’s objectives[4.).

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Placement: Players add one card to the tableau each turn, ensuring it overlaps or lines up edge-to-edge with existing cards. Cards may create gaps in the landscape but must follow placement rules.

Road and River Rules: Roads and rivers cannot connect; they may cross or lay perpendicular to each other.

Scoring:
– Score 1 point for each block in the largest group of connected blocks of each biome type.
– Each separate road deducts 2 points from the total score.
– Score points based on the Scoring Condition cards.

Game Objective: The goal is to achieve a total score higher than the sum of the values on the Scoring Condition cards.

Player Experience

Playing Naturopolis involves a delicate balance between building expansive natural landscapes and managing the negative impact of roads. The game is simple to learn but challenging to master, as players must strategically place cards to maximize their score while minimizing penalties. The cooperative aspect, although intended, feels more like a solo experience due to the game’s wallet-sized nature. Players need to carefully plan their moves to mitigate the severe penalties from road placement, which can be a fun yet frustrating aspect of the game.

Pros

Engaging Theme: Focuses on natural beauty and scenic landscapes, providing a unique twist on the Sprawlopolis series.

Soothing Color Palette: The game features an extremely pleasant and soothing color scheme.

Replayability: Dynamic scoring conditions and multiple card combinations offer high replayability.

Simple yet Challenging: Easy to learn but requires strategic thinking.

Cons

Severe Road Penalties: Managing road placement can be overly challenging and sometimes feels more about mitigating losses than scoring points.

Cooperative Limitations: The cooperative aspect is less pronounced due to the game’s small size and card distribution.

Personal Thoughts on Naturopolis

Naturopolis is ideal for fans of the Sprawlopolis series and those who enjoy micro games with deep strategic layers. It is perfect for players who appreciate a challenge in balancing different elements to achieve a high score. The game’s focus on natural beauty and its soothing color palette make it a great choice for those looking for a calming yet engaging game experience. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a strong cooperative experience or those who prefer games with less punishing penalties.

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