Foothills

Foothills is a captivating two-player card game that invites you to experience the grit and glory of railway construction in Mid and North Wales. I was immediately drawn to the theme and the promise of a strategic, yet accessible, gameplay experience. The game's design is visually appealing, with colorful cards and components that evoke the era of steam engines and rugged landscapes.

The core gameplay is a compelling mix of resource management, strategic card play, and careful planning. Your goal is to manage your team of navvies, collect resources, lay tracks, build stations, and ultimately score more victory points than your opponent. I found the action cards to be particularly engaging, offering diverse ways to achieve your goals and adapt to the ever-changing game state.

While the game is described as tactical and intriguing, I did find it a bit challenging to grasp the nuances of the rules at first. However, once I got the hang of it, the gameplay was truly rewarding. It's a game that encourages careful planning and strategic thinking, and it's definitely a good "thinky" game as one reviewer described it.

One of the downsides I encountered was the condition of the game upon arrival. While I was happy with the game itself, the box did have some minor dents in the corner, and the rules were somewhat damaged due to poor storage and shipping. While this doesn't detract from the gameplay, it is unfortunate and could be a concern for anyone looking to potentially trade or resell the game in the future.

Overall, Foothills is a well-designed and engaging card game for two players. The combination of thematic appeal, strategic depth, and compelling gameplay makes it a worthwhile addition to any board game collection. However, it's worth noting that the potential for shipping damage is a factor to consider before purchasing.