Review Details

Alchemists

Product Review (submitted on September 14, 2015):

I first heard of this game from seeing Tom Vasel's rave review of the game. The idea of mixing herbs to make alchemical mixtures was intriguing to me (I'm a pharmacist), and my kids like most any game that has something to make it unique or cool.

First, let me say that the game is very well made. The counters, cards, etc. are all very sturdy and durable. If you get it, however, that little ridge towards the top of the player screen is NOT supposed to come off. I know a few people who tore them off, only to realize later that they are little ledges for your cards to sit on.

The game has several mechanics that mesh together to make a fairly heavy game. You have to bid for turn order, then there is worker placement, a type of set collection (you have to have an available card of a given ingredient to use it - either for testing or for sale).

Every resource in this game is relatively scarce. You have to carefully balance your supply of ingredients and money, because you never know when that really useful item will appear, or that ingredient you've been trying to harvest for 2 rounds. The decisions are tough, because everything is important, and there is much more to do than there is time to do it.

The thing that makes this game unique, however, is the not-required-but-extremely-helpful companion app. It technically isn't required - but then one person has to be the game master instead of playing the game. There is a chart that the GM can fill out to make the reaction table, but it's SO much easier to use the app. The app is available for iOS and Android, or you can use the one on the manufacturer's website. If you're using the app on a device with a camera, you simply scan your cards, and the app tells you what you've done. From the website - or a tablet without camera - you choose the ingredients manually, and then get the same information.

Overall, my family likes the game, but our games are always very low-scoring affairs, because there is just so much to do and so few rounds in which to do it. You really have to press your luck if you want to be able to get maximum information - which you need in order to publish theories and sell potions. If you like medium-heavy euros that press you to get everything done, give Alchemists a try.