Gravwell (2nd Edition)

I was finally able to get this to the table and play by the correct rules. The game ended up not just being fun, but laugh-out-loud funny. The amount of times players left the starting zone, only to get a little greedy and end up driving themselves right back into the starting zone was too many to count. Eventually, we got the hang of it and one of us almost even made it to the other warp zone though it felt a bit like ice skating uphill while being pushed and pulled by other people trying to get to the top. This game ends up being very balanced since you are dependent on the other players' positions and use of special powers, not to mention your cards. Every time you think you can make a break and get ahead you realize you kinda need the other person to at least be close to you so that you can use your cards for the best effect. The drafting of cards every round means that even if the game is pretty random, you have quite a bit of agency over the outcome or at least you can feel like you do. Most of the randomness there is, though, isn't too bad because it is based on the other player's decisions and cards, although which cards you have is a little random. The point is, this isn't exactly a children's game like Sorry, you get to make meaningful decisions in this game. Although young kids will probably enjoy this too, so long as they aren't too young since the decisions are more abstract than in classic children's games. The rulebook made the game seem mildly complicated, but once you get the flow of it it feels similar to something like Flamme Rouge - simple to learn and teach, fast-paced and you rarely get hung up on rules ever....almost. I will say some of the individual player abilities require a bit more technical knowledge of the rules, like knowing when they activate but nothing too bad. The components are pretty awesome, the ships feel great and the cards seem high quality, the board is huge and looks great on the table. It is fun just to touch the pieces and move them around. My only complaint here is that the cards are gloss finished and they are slippery. Be prepared to accidentally drop them on the floor because you held them at a slight angle and everything came spilling out. Not a big deal overall. The storage for this game is awesome, there is plenty of space for everything so setup and teardown are an absolute breeze, taking less than a minute. Pros: - Chaotic, fun, funny. - Takes very little time to play. - Good balance of agency and luck. - Great theme and components add to the fun. - Simple, fast-paced, and very little downtime. Cons: - The chaos may put some people off. It's not too bad, but this isn't Agricola either. - There is some strategy, but at the end of the day you have to be okay with luck or someone else completely ruining a perfect move you set up because they did something unexpected.

Gravwell is a strategy game that plays like a party game, and the 2nd edition adds more to the fun! The rules have been tweaked to allow up to six players, which is great because the interaction between players' ships is lively. The individual player powers are also a nice addition. This game is easy to learn, quick to play, and provides fun moments of frustration, surprise benefits, and overall zany fun. And yet, players can definitely make good tactical decisions that matter. The only negative to this edition is that a few questions are likely to arise that the concise rule book does not cover. You may have to discuss it and just make a group ruling. The game is fun enough to overcome that shortcoming; it's a great, light strategy game with lively interaction.

This is a fun, easy-going game that works well as a lunch game.

I recently heard about this game a few months ago and it sounded like great fun for my extended family. It allowed them to be competitive but without taking things so seriously (which can sometimes be a problem for them). We played three games and had a great time. The game state changed many times to everyone's delight and dread. Since it was a new game to us, I never threw in the special powers but can see how they could enhance the game. Overall, I am happy with this addition to my collection.