Prehistories (2020) Board Game

Prehistories is a card game that takes players back to the prehistoric era, where they must build the best caveman village to secure their place in history. Designed by Alexandre Emerit and Benoit Turpin, the game was released in 2020 by The Flying Games. With a mix of auction, hand management, pattern building, tile placement, and turn order mechanics, Prehistories offers a unique gaming experience set in a prehistoric theme.

Game Components of Prehistories

Central player board with different sides for varying player counts

Animal tiles of different sizes

Personal deck of cards for each player

Twelve cards and eight Totem tokens per player

Player aid

Objective cards (sun and moon sides for different difficulty levels)

Hunting zone spaces

How To Setup Prehistories

To set up Prehistories, unfold the central player board and configure it according to the number of players. Sort the animal tiles into their respective piles and place them on the hunting zone spaces. Distribute the cards, player boards, and Totem tokens to each player. Lay out the Objective cards, choosing either the easier sun side or the more challenging moon side. This setup process is quick, taking only about 2 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics: Auction, polyomino tile placement

Objective: Be the first player to get rid of all eight Totem tokens by completing objectives on your personal board.

Gameplay:
– Players choose cards from their hand to determine the order and strength of their hunters.
– Hunters are placed face down and revealed to determine who hunts first and who gets the better spoils.
– Players place animal tiles on their board to complete objectives.
– Draw cards based on hunting success and repeat the process until a player clears all their Totems.

Player Experience

Prehistories offers a balanced mix of simplicity and strategy, making it accessible to children as young as 7 years old while still engaging for adults. The game reinforces basic math skills, pattern matching, and decision-making. The cave painting tiles add a charming Palaeolithic theme, and the double-sided board accommodates different player counts, enhancing replayability.

Pros

Easy to learn and set up

Encourages basic math and pattern matching skills

Good replayability due to varying Objective cards

Engaging for both children and adults

Attractive and thematic components

Cons

Interaction between players is relatively low

Some players might find the gameplay repetitive

Personal Thoughts on Prehistories

Prehistories is an excellent choice for families looking for a game that is both fun and educational. Its short playtime of 20-40 minutes ensures that it doesn’t outstay its welcome, especially with younger players. The game’s theme and artwork are well-integrated with the gameplay, making it a delightful addition to any family game collection. It is particularly suitable for families with children aged 7 and above, offering enough depth for adults to enjoy while remaining simple enough for children to grasp.

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