Skylands (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Skylands is a board game designed by Patricia Limberger and published by Queen Games in in 2018. It is a game of exploration and fantasy, where players compete to build their own floating islands in the sky.

Game Components of Skylands

88 Island Tiles

32 Special Island Tiles

4 Action Boards

1 Supply Board

60 Inhabitants

4 Player Boards

4 Starting Island Tiles

4 Player Tokens

4 Player Markers

24 Victory Point Markers

1 Scoring Pad

3 Rulebooks (French, German, and English).

How To Setup Skylands

To set up Skylands, players start by placing their Starting Island Tiles on their Player Boards. Each player receives a Player Token and Marker. The Action Boards, Supply Board, and tile stacks are arranged within reach of all players. A setup variation is included for the first time playing or when introducing new players to simplify the initial game setup.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Tile-laying, Worker Placement

Mechanics: Players select one of four actions: Explore, Harvest, Build, or Collect Energy. The player who selects the action gets an extra bonus, and all other players can participate without the bonus.

Actions:
– Explore: Draw and place new tiles.
– Harvest: Collect resources from completed geographic features.
– Build: Construct special buildings.
– Collect Energy: Move inhabitants from crystal islands to city islands to earn Victory Points.

Objective: Build the grandest part of the Skylands kingdom by completing islands, adding inhabitants, and earning Victory Points. The game ends when one player fills their tableau or all tiles have been placed. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

Skylands offers a blend of strategy and luck, making it accessible to both casual and experienced gamers. The gameplay is straightforward, but the tactical depth increases as the game progresses, especially with the inclusion of special tiles that change each game. Players must carefully manage their actions to avoid getting into awkward situations where they need specific tiles to complete their islands. The game is designed for 2-4 players, ages 8+, and takes approximately 30-45 minutes to play.

Pros

Replayability: The game includes a campaign mode, special buildings for different skill levels, and five small expansions (“Queenies”) for added complexity.

Strategic Depth: Multiple ways to earn points and different approaches to winning.

Accessible: Simple to learn but challenging to master.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players as young as 8, but engaging enough for adults.

Cons

Setup Time: Initial setup can be intimidating due to the number of pieces involved.

Luck Factor: Players may encounter situations where they draw tiles that are not immediately useful.

Space Management: Players need to carefully plan their island builds to avoid running out of space or needing hard-to-find tiles.

Personal Thoughts on Skylands

Skylands is an excellent introduction to tile-laying and worker placement mechanics, making it a great gateway game for new players while still offering enough complexity for experienced gamers. It’s a game that can be enjoyed by families or groups of casual gamers, but it also provides a satisfying challenge for those looking for strategic depth. The variability of the special tiles ensures that each game is unique, adding to the game’s replay value. Overall, Skylands is a rock-solid addition to any board game collection.

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