Victorian Masterminds

Victorian Masterminds is a fun and engaging worker placement game that takes about 20 minutes per player. It's a midweight game with multiple ways to score, and the timing element adds a layer of strategy. The game is set in a steampunk world where players take on the roles of evil masterminds, competing to build their contraptions and wreak havoc on Victorian London.

I really enjoyed the asymmetric gameplay, where each player has a unique contraption to build and a set of five worker tokens with different abilities. The game is fast-paced and interactive, with players constantly vying for control of the different cities on the board. The worker placement mechanic is simple to learn but offers a lot of strategic depth, especially when it comes to deciding when to follow someone into a city or block someone's ability with a Saboteur.

The game's components are well-made, with beautiful 3D miniatures for the buildings and scientists. However, I did find the bolt and copper tokens to be a bit small and flimsy.

The rulebook could have been more clear in some areas, especially when it comes to explaining the mission cards and machine sheet special abilities. But once you understand the rules, the game is easy to play.

Overall, Victorian Masterminds is a great choice for gamers looking for a fast-paced, strategic game with a steampunk twist. It's a perfect game for a group of friends or family who enjoy worker placement games with a lot of replayability.