Scythe

This is a great game. It is a mixture of euro-management and area control without getting bogged down in resource management. It has a nice upgrade mechanism and factions that have subtle abilities that have a huge impact on how you play (such as the different player and faction combinations) without adding in rules bloat. In addition it is easy to teach and the rulebook and graphic design are awesome.
The only downsides are that people expecting a combat heavy war game are going to be disappointed and Win at my cost players will keep trying to bend rules to their advantage. Also while he price is quite good, do keep in mind that this isn’t a miniature heavy game such as CMoN. What you get is great quality though.

I've made it through two games now and had a lot of fun so far. The different faction boards are a good way to change your strategy from game to game. I was concerned that my enjoyment of Scythe wouldn't live up to the hype, but it's a lot of fun if you enjoy games like Catan. If you want a fighting game, this isn't your game. If you want faction building and strategy, you'll like Scythe. Learning the game might seem daunting at first, but after a game or two you will have a good feel for it.

This game is incredible! There is so much depth, but the mechanics are so smooth. I love than on each turn, you really have three action columns to choose from (since you normally can't choose the action column from your previous turn). However, figuring out which choice to make and when is the tricky part. Most of the actions are extremely simple to execute (i.e. produce, trade, bolster). The only action that gets a bit complicated is movement, since you have to pick multiple units to move, and can possibly interact with components on the board (factory cards, encounter tokens/cards) or engage in combat. This game is meaty, and gives players plenty to think about. This game really comes down to efficiency--you have to perform your actions as efficiently as possible, in the best order possible, and only focus on doing a few things really well. $55 is a terrific price point for all that you get in this game (huge board, tons of cards, cool plastic miniatures and dozens of wooden pieces). I enjoy all the player counts, but find 4-5 player games to be the best player count. Additionally, the Automa solo-mode is awesome! It takes a little while to learn, but once you do, you have a fun challenge to take advantage of. The hardest Automa difficulty is insanely difficult, but is very rewarding to beat. Having the Automa solo-mode helps you get even more value out of this product. This game truly is amazing (probably my favorite game at this point), and it's no wonder why it has won so many awards (including awards for its art, which is absolutely stunning!). This is a must-buy for people who want a thinky, beautiful strategy game.

This is a game you can play forever. Each play through is fundamentally different, in style dependent on the factions chosen and number of players. Asymmetric action maps and faction abilities allow unique combinations and strategies. You can compete for military conquest or resource domination but the threat of combat is just as important as combat itself. Achieving the win condition is dependent on completing 6 of 10 possible accomplishments, where all but one is equal for everyone.

The art is stunning and the components (I have the kickstarter version) are compelling. Everything has a weight and feel that enables players to have a rich experience. It's one I'm always down to play given the time (2-4 hours)

Scythe has been my first venture out into the bigger and heavier world of board gaming. Most of the games I have in my collection (Catan, King of Tokyo, Ticket to Ride, Sushi Go) were always purchased based on whether I could find something that my family or friends would be able to commit to and enjoy--something that looks simple and is easily and quickly consumed. But when I first discovered Scythe earlier this year, I knew I found something special that not only looked fantastic but also that I would have to have (and which surprisingly takes very basic mechanics and fleshes them out)!

Scythe took awhile to find the right crowd for me to get it to the table, but that crowd was one that was totally open-minded and willing to trust me on my word (because this game is worth the investment). Yes, it comes with a time commitment, but one look at the board and components and you will be shocked and a little upset you only get 2-3 hours to spend in this world before another go-round. This game is worth its weight in looks but also creates a gaming experience that certainly matches at all player counts. I have thoroughly enjoyed the few times I've taught and played this game with those friends and neighbors of mine who love to try new things, and we had a blast unearthing the puzzle of efficiency, tactical play, and building up our factions. I've also busted it out on plenty of occasions to try my hand against the Automa, and those times taught me plenty on strategy as well as revealed one more layer of enjoyment with each runthrough.

Scythe is well-deserving of the accolades it has received because it combines a rich and unique experience with a solid and well-thought base of a game, and I can't recommend it enough. If you are looking for something with plenty of meat on the bone, here it is. It is both a strategic think tank and a journey of exploration. The actions are interesting and fresh, and no two games are alike. Even the pacing of player turns is structured and balanced so that time flies. The toughest choices are dictated by strategy not luck, and there is a aching excitement over which action to do this turn when they all look so good. By the end of your first play, you will be sitting and conversing over the many possibilities and plans you and your friends had (if you only had just one more turn) as you look at the beautiful map and reminisce. Scythe was worth the price at full retail value, now there's no reason I wouldn't recommend it to a fan of the gaming hobby. My only caveat is there is a steep learning curve to any outsider, and it took me awhile through research, reading the rulebook, and watching videos of playthroughs to feel totally capable of teaching this game and playing at the same time without any reservation. I highly recommend watching Jamey Stegmaier's "How to Teach Scythe" video to help you, but as a fan of the Scythe universe, all the time spent learning only enhanced my experience.

I'm not typically a fan of Euro or Euro Hybrid games...typically, worker placement and resource management are kinda blase. It was with a bit of trepidation that I shelled out for Scythe. I thought, "Well, at least I can sell this if it's not my thing." Turns out, it's my thing.

The mood and theme of this game permeate the gameplay in a way that's very satisfying. Just check out the box cover to see what I mean. There's an overarching sense of eerie mechanical dread in much of the artwork. It's rich in feeling, with peasants going about their day to day routing, and mechs in the background, either keeping a watchful, protective eye, or keeping the workers in line. I'm not sure which it is, but it's quite engrossing to ponder.

A game is all about the gameplay, of course, and in this way, Scythe rises to the occasion. The mechanics are streamlined and easy to understand. The designers cleverly allow the second half of your turn to happen while the next player does their first half. In this way, things don't ever really bog down, aside from AP if the player has a few equally appealing options.

The game will get even smoother as the player gains experience, making planning for future turns easier to approach.

Conflict is indirect, and mostly revolves around a race to approach the factory. And battle has consequences in this game, making you lose popularity if workers are displaced. This just plain makes sense...if you mess with the people, the people aren't going to like it one bit.

Scythe offers lots of strategy options, and that's multiplied by the variety of factions and player boards available. I do not have the expansion yet, but look forward to even more variety when it's released.

The theme, gameplay, and variety of this game makes this one to add to your shelf. Try and check it out, and at the least give it a play on someone else's copy. I feel this one will go down in history as something very unique and very, very good.

Fantastic 4x game. Very fast paced 2-5 min wait time between turns even less if everyone knows how to play. Awesome factions with their own twists to the rules. And one of the few where the focus is gathering wealth rather than fighting. Plays very quickly first game including set up and tear down was less than 3 hours.

Yes, It's expensive. Yes, it's complex. But what it also is is one of the most interesting games you're likely to play. It combines the best elements of Settlers of Catan with the complexity of Stone age yet eliminates almost all of the randomness and luck. Incredibly high replay value as the character tables change every game (kind of similar to the way the board does in settlers). On top of that the game itself is simply beautiful. The pieces themselves are sturdy and just fun to play with and help create a great sense of space in the game. This will quickly become a favourite in your collection if you love complex games.

Great game, great art but if you're looking for lots of combat, this isn't it. You will build mechs that can be used for combat, but their true value is found in the mobility they to your workers and harvested resources and their ability to disrupt your opponents' workers.

That said, this game is an asymmetrical game: each player controls a unique character with unique abilities--no two are remotely the same. Furthermore, each player also has a unique player board with similar (but not the same!) actions to the opponents' player boards. While asymmetrical, the game is thoroughly well-balanced with great replayability.

Played it several times with 3, 4, and 5 players and it has held up and even exceeded expectations. Great game with great mechanics and exceptional art. Can be played with many different strategies and the individual factions feel unique and well balanced.