Alubari: A Nice Cup of Tea

I recently had the pleasure of playing Alubari: A Nice Cup of Tea, a new worker placement game from the Snowdonia family, and I have to say, it was a delightful experience. The game takes you to the stunning Darjeeling region of India, where you compete to cultivate your own tea estates and build the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The game's theme is perfectly captured in its colorful board and beautifully illustrated cards. I particularly appreciate the extensive solo variant achievements table, which offers a huge amount of replayability. There are so many goals to strive for that I can see myself playing this game for a long time to come.

The gameplay itself is engaging and strategic. You'll need to carefully place your workers, manage resources, and time your actions to take advantage of the changing weather conditions. The Chai tea mechanic adds a nice layer of depth and allows for some strategic boosts during your turns.

However, I do agree with some reviewers that the game's board feels a little larger than necessary. And while the Chai mechanic is a fun and thematic addition, I'm not sure the game has the same staying power as its predecessor, Snowdonia.

Overall, Alubari: A Nice Cup of Tea is a solid worker placement game with a beautiful theme, interesting mechanics, and a healthy dose of strategic depth. It's a great choice for anyone looking for a relaxing and rewarding gaming experience.