Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a surprisingly engaging game centered around the tea trade in India. The core gameplay is straightforward: collect tea, assemble crates, and ship them off for points. But the real depth comes from the strategic decisions you make about what tea to collect, when to ship, and how to manipulate the scoring system. The game board is flexible, which allows for a good deal of customization and replayability.

The scoring system is particularly interesting. You earn points not only for the size and variety of your shipments, but also for their position in the "shipment column". This creates a dynamic tension where you want to get your shipments out there early to maximize your score, but also need to be mindful of other players trying to do the same thing.

I found the theme of the game to be charming and well-executed. The components are high quality and the game itself is fairly simple to learn. It's a great game for a range of players, from those new to strategy games to more experienced gamers. If you're looking for a fun, strategic game with a unique theme, I definitely recommend giving Darjeeling a try.