In the Year of the Dragon

In the Year of the Dragon is a game that really makes you feel like you're living through a tumultuous time in ancient China. You're constantly having to make tough decisions about how to manage your resources, your people, and your palace in the face of disasters like drought, plague, and Mongol invasions. It's not easy, and you can easily find yourself losing everything, but that's part of what makes the game so thrilling.

The game is deceptively simple to learn but has a lot of depth. The core gameplay loop involves selecting an action, playing a person card, and dealing with the monthly event. The key is to plan ahead and make sure you're prepared for whatever disasters may come your way. It's a game where you're always trying to minimize your losses rather than maximize your gains.

I personally find the game's unforgiving nature to be a real strength. It's a game that demands your full attention and rewards careful planning. It's also a game that's very replayable, as the order of events changes each time, meaning you'll need to adjust your strategy accordingly.

The 10th Anniversary Edition comes with a couple of expansions, which is a nice bonus. The components are decent, though not amazing. However, the game itself is so good that I don't mind the average quality of the components.

If you're looking for a challenging, strategic game with a unique theme, In the Year of the Dragon is definitely worth checking out. It's not for the faint of heart, but for those who enjoy a good challenge, it's a truly rewarding experience.