Oltre Mare

I recently picked up a copy of Oltre Mare - Merchants of Venice and I have to say, it's a delightful surprise. While the game might appear simple at first glance, it's surprisingly strategic and engaging.

The core gameplay revolves around trading goods and collecting sets of cards to score points. What makes it unique is the dual-purpose nature of the cards. Each card has two actions, one beneficial and one negative. This creates a nice balance, making strategic choices about which cards to play and what to trade for crucial.

The inclusion of the "Pirate" action adds a fun element of risk and reward. I also appreciate the harbor bonuses, which add another layer of depth and complexity. Although the board is present, it's not essential to the gameplay, and the game could easily function as a card-only experience.

Overall, I highly recommend Oltre Mare for anyone looking for a fun and strategic card game that's easy to learn but offers plenty of replayability. It's definitely a game that gets better with each play, and I find myself constantly trying to refine my strategies.