Splendor

In the world of deck builders and resource gathering games Splendor is, without a doubt, top notch. The mechanics are simple, gather resources in the form of colored chips. Then turn them in to acquire permanent resource cards that can be paired with the chip in further rounds in order to acquire cards that give you points. First player to the target score wins.

That's Splendor in it's simplest explanation. Going more in depth, there are also ways to reserve cards that you do not yet have the resources for, (which also permit you to attain a "wild" chip used in place of any color) in order to prevent your opponents from getting the card first or to ensure you get "dibs" before anyone else. Game-play is balanced, you can prioritize one resource, or diversify and collect more resources in the process. In addition to the cards and resources, there are noble cards that you receive as a bonus action whenever you have the resources to claim them. These cards are important to monitor as they become crucial; (In the first game I played, these cards cost me a win) However, there is no one strategy that will always win, you must play to your opponents as well as which cards come up in play.

With a large card count, and multiple strategy options, Splendor can be played again and again over and over. Each game lasts 30-45 minutes, with more experienced players leaning towards shorter games and rounds. I can pretty much guarantee if you like games like 7 Wonders, or Dominion, you'll also enjoy Splendor. Get your copy today, HERE

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