Scarabya (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Scarabya is a puzzle board game designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc and published by Blue Orange in in 2018. The game is set in a desert where players compete to create the best archeological sites by placing tiles on their individual boards. With an age recommendation of 8+ and a playing time of 15-20 minutes, Scarabya is suitable for families and casual gamers looking for a fun and challenging game experience.

Game Components of Scarabya

Player boards representing different world areas

Tiles for creating excavation areas

Scarab tokens of varying values

Scorepad

How To Setup Scarabya

To set up Scarabya, each player starts with their own player board. The tiles are shuffled and distributed evenly among the players. Each player places their tiles on their board to create excavation areas around the scarabs. The game is ready to play once all tiles are placed according to the rules.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Simultaneous Tile Placement: Players place tiles on their boards simultaneously.

Excavation Areas: Players create areas around scarabs to capture them.

Scoring: Larger excavation areas lead to capturing more valuable scarabs.

Objective: The goal is to capture the most valuable collection of scarabs.

Player Experience

Playing Scarabya is a fun and engaging experience, especially for those who enjoy strategic planning and tile-laying games. It requires attention to detail and forward thinking to maximize the value of the scarabs you capture. The game is relatively quick to play, making it suitable for both casual and experienced gamers.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: Simultaneous tile placement adds an exciting layer of strategy.

Easy to Learn: The rules are straightforward, making it accessible to new players.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for a wide range of ages and skill levels.

Quick Playtime: Games are typically short, lasting around 20-30 minutes.

Cons

Limited Replayability: Once the tiles are familiar, the game may become less challenging.

Luck Factor: The distribution of tiles can sometimes influence the outcome more than strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Scarabya

Scarabya is ideal for those who enjoy tile-laying games and are looking for a quick, strategic challenge. It’s a great addition to any game collection, especially for families or groups of friends who appreciate light to medium complexity games. However, players seeking a game with deep complexity or high replayability might find Scarabya a bit lacking.

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