Olympos

Olympos, from the designer of Small World, is a civilization game that plays in 60-90 minutes for 2-5 players. I was immediately drawn to it because of its connection to Small World, a game I love.

The core gameplay revolves around resource management and territory control with an interesting turn order mechanic. Each action you take moves you up the time track, and the last player on the track continues to take turns until they pass another player. This creates opportunities for strategic maneuvering, allowing you to take multiple turns in a row or wait strategically for your turn.

The game is filled with interesting choices, like deciding whether to expand your territories or develop your civilization through discoveries and wonders. The map, depicting Greece and Atlantis, is designed to encourage player interaction, but the conflict rarely feels overly aggressive or unfair. While there are moments of player interaction, it doesn't feel like outright screwage.

I particularly enjoyed the God cards, which introduce an element of randomness and change the flow of the game. Half the cards are bonuses, while the other half are penalties, and they can shift the tide of the game in unexpected ways.

The replayability is high, as the discovery board and Gods in play will be different each game. You'll always have new strategies to explore and adapt to.

While the game is simple in its mechanics and victory conditions, it offers a good deal of depth. I found the game to be engaging and enjoyable, with multiple strategies for achieving victory. It's a great option for a casual game night, and I definitely recommend it to fans of Small World and other civilization games.