The Acts (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The Acts board game, released in 2018, is a game that takes players back to ancient times, exploring religious themes and historical events. Designed by Liz Stephanoff and illustrated by Cobblestone Games, The Acts offers a unique gaming experience centered around worker placement mechanics.

Game Components of The Acts

Game board featuring six regions (with the expansion adding a seventh region, Italy)

Worker tokens

Believer tokens

Church tokens

Miracle cards

Epistles (letters) in the Letters from Rome expansion

Tithes as a new resource in the expansion

Prayer points tokens

Coins

How To Setup The Acts

To set up The Acts, players start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a set of worker tokens and places them on the starting locations on the board. The Miracle cards, believer tokens, and church tokens are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. In the Letters from Rome expansion, the Italy sideboard is added, and the Epistles are integrated into the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Worker placement

Resource management (coins, tithes)

Area control

Hand management (Miracle cards)

Game Objective

The goal is to be the first player to reach a specified number of believers, represented by a score track around the outside of the board.

Players send their workers to different regions to preach, pray, build churches, and collect resources.

The Letters from Rome expansion adds new strategies such as collecting Epistles and generating tithes.

Player Experience

Playing The Acts involves strategic planning and resource management as players navigate the spread of the early Christian church. The game is relatively simple yet strategic, making it accessible to a wide range of players. The addition of the Letters from Rome expansion introduces new challenges and opportunities, such as traveling to Italy to collect Epistles and manage tithes.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Offers a good balance between simplicity and strategic complexity.

Thematic Integration: The game theme is well-integrated with the mechanics, enhancing the player experience.

Expansive Gameplay: The Letters from Rome expansion adds new regions and mechanics, extending the game’s replayability.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for families and casual gamers due to its easy-to-learn rules.

Cons

Complexity in Expansion: The new mechanics in the Letters from Rome expansion might require some time to get accustomed to.

Cost of Worker Movement: Moving workers to distant regions, especially Italy, can be costly and may disrupt other actions.

Limited Worker Actions: Each worker can perform only one action per turn, which can limit the amount of progress made in a single turn.

Personal Thoughts on The Acts

The Acts is a great choice for those who enjoy worker placement games with a strong thematic focus. It is particularly appealing to players interested in historical or religious themes and those who appreciate a game that balances simplicity with strategic depth. While it may not be the best fit for players seeking highly complex or competitive games, it offers a rewarding experience for families and casual gamers looking for a engaging and thematic game.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.