Board Games

Board Game Review – Scythe

Posted by David McKenzie on

Short Version:

The board game Scythe is an incredible board game by designer Jamey Stegmaier and Artist/Designer Jakub Rozalski. Top tier in all categories – this game absolutely deserves to be on every board gamers shelf. This game is an absolute work of Art.

Overall rating of 9.6 based on 10 categories. A full score of 96.5/100.

—

Welcome to our in-depth review of “Scythe,” a highly acclaimed board game that combines resource management, strategic planning, and asymmetric gameplay. In this review, we’ll dive into the captivating world of Scythe, exploring its gameplay mechanics, components, replayability, and overall player experience. Whether you’re a seasoned board game enthusiast or a novice looking for an immersive gaming experience, Scythe promises to deliver a thrilling adventure on the tabletop.

Released in 2016 via Kickstarter (and digital in 2018), Scythe has sold– 544,102 physical copies and 535,000 digital copies to date. An unbelievable metric for any game designer and producer. Scythe is complete. After completing the 3-expansion story arc and wrapping up with accessories like the Legendary Box, the modular board, and the complete rulebook, Scythe is complete. While we will continue to reprint and support old and new Scythians alike, the Scythe game is complete and will not be further extended. It is possible that we will revisit Jakub Rozalski’s 1920+ world someday in a new game.

Scythe (1-5 players, 115 minutes) is a board game set in an alternate-history 1920s period. It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and valor.

  • Designer: Jamey Stegmaier
  • Art & Worldbuilding: Jakub Rozalski

Keywords: Scythe, board game, strategic planning, resource management, asymmetric gameplay, replayability, immersive gaming experience, tabletop adventure

Backstory:

It is a time of unrest in 1920s Europa. The ashes from the first great war still darken the snow. The capitalistic city-state known simply as “The Factory,” which fueled the war with heavily armored mechs, has closed its doors, drawing the attention of several nearby countries.

Each player begins the game with different resources (strength, victory points, movement capabilities, and popularity), their choice of several faction-specific abilities, and a hidden goal. Starting positions are specially calibrated to contribute to each faction’s uniqueness and the asymmetrical nature of the game.

Scythe gives players almost complete control over their fate. Other than each player’s individual hidden objective cards, the only elements of luck are encounter cards that players will draw as they interact with the citizens of newly explored lands and combat cards that give you a temporary boost in combat. Combat is also driven by choices, not luck or randomness.

Scythe is 1-5 players, 90-115min play time, 14+ age range, with a BGG complexity rating of 3.44/5.

Keywords: resource management, area control, worker placement, factions, diverse playstyles, strategic decisions, economic development

Components and Artwork: Scythe boasts impressive production value, with meticulously designed components that enhance the immersive gameplay. The game includes beautifully illustrated faction boards, sturdy player mats, and detailed miniatures for both the mechs and characters. The attention to detail in the artwork brings the world of 1920s Europa to life, captivating players and drawing them deeper into the game’s atmosphere.

Additionally, Scythe features a modular board, allowing for varied setups and replayability. The hexagonal tiles representing different terrains fit together seamlessly, offering endless possibilities for game configurations. The quality of the components ensures durability and longevity, making Scythe a worthwhile investment for board game enthusiasts.

Keywords: production value, beautifully illustrated, detailed miniatures, attention to detail, modular board, replayability, durability

Replayability and Variability: One of the defining features of Scythe is its high replayability. The game’s variable setup, combined with the faction-specific abilities and multiple paths to victory, ensures that no two games are alike. Players can explore different strategies, experiment with various factions, and adapt their tactics based on the ever-changing game state.

Furthermore, Scythe introduces a deck of encounter cards that players can discover during their exploration actions. These encounters provide narrative moments, branching choices, and rewards, adding an element of surprise and unpredictability to the game. This feature significantly enhances replayability, as encounters can shape the direction of gameplay and introduce unique challenges in each session.

Keywords: high replayability, variable setup, multiple paths to victory, faction-specific abilities, exploration, encounter cards, unique challenges

Player Experience: Scythe offers an immersive gaming experience that immerses players in a richly thematic world while providing deep strategic gameplay. The combination of resource management, area control, and asymmetric gameplay mechanics ensures a captivating and intellectually stimulating experience. Every decision feels meaningful, and the interplay between players creates a sense of tension and excitement throughout the game.

The visual appeal of Scythe, coupled with the high-quality components and stunning artwork, contributes to an engaging and visually striking tabletop experience. The game’s replayability, thanks to its variable setup, faction diversity, and the inclusion of encounter cards, guarantees countless hours of enjoyment for both casual and competitive players.

Scythe is a must-have board game for enthusiasts seeking a captivating blend of strategy, resource management, and immersive gameplay. Its remarkable production value, depth of gameplay, and high replayability make it a worthy addition to any board game collection.

Also worth noting – there are plenty of expansions and upgrade packs to enhance the game further (i.e. metal coins, tokens, races, etc).

Keywords: immersive gaming experience, strategic gameplay, deep gameplay, visually striking, must-have board game, remarkable production value, captivating blend of strategy, high replayability

Metrics and Breakdown

  1. Plot/Story (9/10) ***
    • This game can go all the way up to a 10/10 depending on what expansions are being used. A fun and INTERESTING take on an alternative reality and how society may develop based on a steam-punk 1920’s era.
  2. Fun (10/10)***
    • This game is an absolute blast. Played at least 3 times a year (if not more), this game is just a lot of fun. Every action has a purpose and that’s tough to do in a board game. After playing this over 30 times, it’s my 2nd favorite game thus far.
  3. Replayability (10/10)***
    • The original/standard version of this game provides high replayability. To echo above, no game will be the same due to players, actions, strategy, race, cards, etc. Additionally the replayability INCREASES further when adding the expansions.
  4. Art (10/10)***
    • Ranking the art by Jakub Rozalski is both simple and difficult. Simple, in that it is an obvious 10/10. Difficult due to the question of how do you rank/categorize Art? This game is a work of art. The art of the game is a work of Art. Art Art Art Art Art Art.
  5. Design (9.5/10)***
    • Wow. Just. WOW. It’s nearly perfect. Every action has WEIGHT. It matters. Top to bottom actions are so well designed it’s unbelievable. The only slight demarcation is due to the random event cards can really swing the game. Players can snowball under the right circumstances.
  6. Theme (10/10)***
    • The worldbuilding of Jakub Rozalski – is simply amazing. Every piece of the game is DRIPPING with thematic design. Players will absolutely feel transported into the Scythe universe. The game actually RULES that players must showcase the art to help enhance the theme/immersion. I highly recommend getting the artbook as well!
  7. Quality (10/10)***
    • Jamey Stegmaier partnered and created his boardgame empire based on several items. One in particular is the quality of pieces/art/board/etc. Nothing in this game is low quality. From cards to miniatures, players will absolutely be able to see the quality in components, design, art, and gameplay.
  8. Multiplayer/Interactivity (8/10)***
    • Is an 8/10 a miss? No. It’s just probably the only section (other than plot?) that is just SLIGHTLY not as good as the other categories. Players absolutely can and will likely interact to score victory points. HOWEVER, it is not as highlighted of a feature comparative to the other categories. The reason it’s slightly lower is because players can absolutely play this game without interacting with another player. However, the game is absolutely more fun with competition and other players. Their choices WILL affect your choices. Their actions will MODIFY yours. Scythe has so many clever mechanics that players do matter – just not always. Depends on your strategy.
  9. Originality (10/10)***
    • Combine a refreshing design on asymmetrical player actions with an unbelievable take on an alternate 1920s Europa + Art by Jakub Rozalski. This game is extremely original and absolutely original in design, theme, etc. when it came out. Since then, there are many games that have copied the asymmetrical player choices, art, quality, etc. Few have come close to capturing what Scythe did when it entered the market in 2016.
  10. Rules (10/10)**
    • Rules are well designed, written, and quite clear. Few times will players be confused with what is in the updated rules. Great use of examples, photos, and spacing between sections. On top of it all, the quality and art of the rulebook is absolutely unparalleled.

Based on the 10 categories above, Scythe generates a score of 96.5/100. Now remember, this is taking additional factors in to account that some players may not care about when it comes to gaming. The asterisks represent primary concerns for most board gamers when deciding what game to invest in (based on cost per use aka how often it hits the table) – Scythe ranks near perfect at 96.5/100.

When Scythe hit the market in 2016-2017 it DOMINATED the BGG rankings. It won nearly every award when released (see below). This game is nearly perfect.

AWARDS & HONORS

Sources

Scythe

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/169786/scythe

Do Digital Board Games Outsell Their Tabletop Counterparts?

Leave a comment