It's a Wonderful World

I've been on the hunt for a good engine-building game that's not too heavy or time-consuming, and It's a Wonderful World has quickly become a favorite. It's a really smart blend of card drafting, like 7 Wonders, and tableau building, like Spice Road. The theme is a bit silly, but the mechanics are solid and the gameplay is surprisingly engaging.

The core of the game is pretty simple: you draft cards, choose which to build, and use those built cards to generate resources and points. The production phase is the most interesting part, as it's done sequentially, forcing you to plan carefully to maximize your output. The fact that you're essentially playing a solo game against your opponents, with the only interaction being card drafting, actually works really well.

I was a little concerned about the randomness of the card drafting, but it's balanced out by the fact that you can recycle cards you don't need for resources. There's enough variety in the cards that each game feels fresh, and the solo mode is surprisingly challenging and rewarding.

The only real downside is the setup, which takes longer than it should due to the abundance of cubes. But that's a minor complaint, and easily overcome with some clever organization. I can definitely see myself playing It's a Wonderful World for a long time to come.