Altiplano

Altiplano is a fantastic bag-building game that I recently picked up, and it's quickly become one of my favorites. The game is set in the South American highlands of the Andes, and players compete to build up their own production lines to be the best in the region.

I was initially drawn to Altiplano because of its connection to Orléans, another great game from the same designers. While there are similarities, Altiplano definitely stands on its own. I particularly enjoy the addition of a warehouse with an ordering system, as well as the central hub movement mechanic that adds a layer of strategic depth.

It's true that Altiplano has a lot of components, and setting up the game can be a bit of a chore. However, once the game is set up, it's a lot of fun. Each player has a unique role tile that gives them a special ability, and the game is surprisingly enjoyable to "juggle" all of these elements while collecting resources.

I agree with some reviewers that the production quality of the components could be better. I've noticed some of the cardboard pieces are a little flimsy and prone to splitting. I'm planning to make my own foam core organizer to help with the storage and setup.

Overall, Altiplano is a challenging and rewarding game that provides a great deal of replayability. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys strategy games with a bit of a learning curve.