As the Tabletop Editor at TechRaptor, I am always excited when a game comes along that completely blows me away. And that’s exactly what happened with Archeos Society, the new release from publisher Space Cowboys. I’ve been playing and playtesting Archeos Society for the last few months, trying out different versions of the game with varying player counts. And I have to say, this could be my favorite board game of 2023. Let’s take a closer look to find out why.
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Archeos Society Review – What Is Archeos Society?
Archeos Society is a set collecting board game designed by Paolo Mori, who is known for his classic game Ethnos. In this game, each player leads an expedition of researchers, scientists, and explorers to uncover incredible sights around the world. The goal is to collect and play sets of cards and claim points over two or three rounds, depending on the number of players. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins!
What sets Archeos Society apart and caught my attention is the customizable nature of the game’s components. Each playthrough can be a unique gaming experience since the components can be mixed and matched in different ways.
How Do You Play Archeos Society?
In Archeos Society, you start by selecting six different sets of cards, each representing a type of explorer. These cards come in six different colors, corresponding to six location game boards on the table. On your turn, you can either draw a card or play a set of cards. Playing sets of cards moves your marker along one of the location boards and earns you points at the end of each round.
Playing a set of cards also triggers the special ability of the top card in the set, which can provide additional points or other benefits. The game revolves around collecting sets, advancing on point tracks, and strategizing which cards to play.
That’s the basic gameplay of Archeos Society. It’s a fast-paced and engaging game that combines card collecting and push your luck mechanics.
Archeos Society Review – Incredible Replay Value
Archeos Society offers incredible replay value due to the carefully designed abilities of each explorer and the customizable nature of the game. With twelve explorer decks available but only six used in each game, each playthrough can be significantly different. Additionally, the game introduces uncertainty through trigger cards that determine when each round ends.
Archeos Society Review – Final Thoughts
In my opinion, Archeos Society is a special and exciting game. It takes a simple mechanic like set collection and adds strategic depth through gameplay decisions. The game is easy to learn but offers plenty of room for strategic thinking. It’s fast-paced and keeps everyone engaged without slowing down the gameplay.
The game box is also well-designed, storing all the different card sets neatly. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care went into creating this game. Overall, it has been the most enjoyable tabletop experience for me and my gaming group this year.
Should I Buy Archeos Society?
If you enjoy card drafting, set collection, and push your luck mechanics, I highly recommend giving Archeos Society a try. It offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience. However, if you prefer cooperative games or games with deep storytelling elements, this may not be the game for you. But I believe that Archeos Society will appeal to a wide range of board gamers.
The copy of Archeos Society used for this review was provided by Asmodee USA. The author spent over 30 hours playing the game. All photos in this review were taken by the author.