The Smoky Valley (2022) Board Game

The Smoky Valley is a city-building board game that takes place in the industrial era. Players take on the roles of entrepreneurs looking to develop the valley by building factories, establishing transportation networks, and managing resources. The game is designed by Ferdinand Dumago Ladera and Harald Lieske, known for their strategic and engaging game designs.

Game Components of The Smoky Valley

Game board

Player boards

Resource tokens

Building tiles

Employee cards

Event cards

Smoke level tokens

Other various components specific to economic and industrial management

How To Setup The Smoky Valley

Setting up The Smoky Valley involves preparing the game board, distributing player boards, and shuffling various decks such as resource tokens, building tiles, employee cards, and event cards. Players also need to determine the starting player and set the initial smoke level. The detailed setup ensures that each player has the necessary components to begin their industrial journey.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players manage resources such as wood, coal, and cement.

Worker Placement: Employees are placed to optimize production and development.

Engine-Building: Players build and upgrade their industrial facilities.

Economic Development: Focus on expanding and managing your industrial empire.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by efficiently managing resources, building, and upgrading facilities while navigating the challenges posed by the smoke level mechanism.

Player Experience

The Smoky Valley offers a deep and complex gaming experience, ideal for fans of heavy economic and industrial games. Players must balance resource management, worker placement, and facility upgrades while adapting to changing conditions such as the smoke level, which can affect gameplay. The game requires strategic planning and execution, making it engaging and challenging.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers complex and engaging gameplay.

Thematic Integration: Strongly themed around industrial development.

High Replayability: Multiple paths to victory and variable setup.

Challenging: Suitable for experienced players looking for a challenge.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: Can be overwhelming for new players.

Long Playtime: Games can take several hours to complete.

High Cost: Priced at around $99.95.

Personal Thoughts on The Smoky Valley

The Smoky Valley is for seasoned board game enthusiasts who enjoy complex economic and industrial development games. It is not a game for casual players due to its depth and complexity. If you are looking for a game that offers a rich, challenging experience with high replayability, The Smoky Valley is an excellent choice. However, be prepared for a significant investment in both time and money.

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.