The River (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The River is a board game released in 2018, designed by Andrew Bosley and published by Days of Wonder. It falls under the category of exploration games and features mechanics such as contracts, tile placement, and worker placement. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a playtime of 30-45 minutes and is suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Game Components of The River

Player Boards: Each player has a River board to manage their territory.

Terrain Tiles: These tiles are placed along the river on the player board, affecting resource production and storage.

Pioneers/Workers: Players use these to take actions on the main board.

Resource Tokens: Representing resources such as food, buildings, and new settlers.

Building Cards: Used to construct valuable buildings and earn points.

Bonus Tokens: Awarded for achieving certain milestones or matching terrain types.

How To Setup The River

To set up the game, each player receives a Boat with 4 pioneers and a River Board with a 5th pioneer placed on the second Round spot. The terrain tiles are shuffled and some are flipped up on the leftmost island on the main board. Players draft one terrain tile in reverse player order to start their river board. The Building cards are shuffled and placed on the empty spaces on the rightmost island, while the middle islands are stocked with resources based on the player count.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their pioneers on action spots on the main board to collect resources, build, or take other actions.

Tile Placement: Players manage terrain tiles on their River board to optimize resource production and storage.

Resource Management: Players must manage resources carefully to construct buildings and achieve bonuses.

Objective: The goal is to create the best pioneer settlement by developing land along the river, collecting resources, and constructing valuable buildings to score the most victory points.

Player Experience

Playing **The River** is a fast and streamlined experience, with games typically lasting 30-45 minutes. The game is easy to learn, making it a great introduction to worker placement games. However, it also offers enough strategy to keep experienced players engaged. Players must balance resource collection, tile placement, and building construction to maximize their score.

Pros

Accessible and Easy to Learn: Perfect for new players or families.

Strategic Depth: Offers enough complexity for experienced players to enjoy.

Visual Appeal: The game components and artwork are highly praised.

Quick Gameplay: Games are fast-paced and do not outstay their welcome.

Gateway Game: Excellent introduction to the worker placement genre.

Cons

Limited Replay Value: The game can be outgrown quickly as there is little variation from game to game.

Harsh Catch-Up Mechanism: Players ahead may lose workers, which can be frustrating.

Limited Resource Supply: This can lead to tense player interaction and cutthroat behavior.

Similar Tiles: The terrain tiles can feel too similar, lacking enough unique special abilities.

Personal Thoughts on The River

**The River** is ideal for those new to tabletop gaming or looking for a lighter worker placement experience. It is a great game for families or for groups that want a quick, strategic game. While it may not offer the complexity that hardcore gamers seek, it is an excellent addition to any game collection as a gateway or filler game. Its ease of learning and quick gameplay make it a perfect choice for introducing new players to the world of board games.

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