Title: Viscounts of the West Kingdom
Designed By: S J Macdonald and Shem Phillips
Art By: Mihajlo Dimitrievski
Published By: Garphill Games
Released: 2020
Player Count: 1-4
Time to Play: 60-90 Minutes
Ages: 12+
Overview:
Viscounts of the West Kingdom, designed by Shem Phillips and S J Macdonald, is the first game I've played from these designers, and it leaves me wondering why I didn't dive into their creations sooner. As a fan of complex games, Viscounts of the West Kingdom hits the mark with its intricate mechanics and engaging gameplay. The objective is to earn the most points by the end of the game through various means, such as constructing buildings, collecting manuscripts, and acquiring land deeds. Players navigate the kingdom, seeking new townsfolk to aid in their endeavors. If you enjoy a game that challenges your strategic thinking, this is a fantastic choice.
What's purr-ty cool:
Complexity of Gameplay:
Viscounts of the West Kingdom is a medium-heavy game that combines rondel, area majority, deck-building, worker placement, set collecting, and modular board elements, with some variable player powers for good measure. The game demands a balance of resources, debt and deeds management, and timing of actions, leading to a multitude of strategic choices and potential paths to victory. I particularly enjoy games where different strategies can lead to success, and this game excels in that regard.
One of my favorite aspects is the castle worker placement mechanism. Placing workers in the castle follows unique rules, allowing players to bump existing workers to new spaces, deeper into the castle, or even out of the castle entirely. This creates opportunities for additional resources or actions, and I love how these chains of actions can make gameplay even more dynamic and rewarding.
The board design, with its inside and outside paths, offers more strategic decision-making opportunities compared to typical path movement games. Players must consider which path aligns best with their goals and decide when to move in or out of the circle optimally.
Satisfying Solo Mode:
Viscounts of the West Kingdom is a game I gladly play solo. The AI system is well-designed, running smoothly and effectively simulating a human opponent. Managing the AI is straightforward, and I appreciate that the AI scores points at the end of the game, providing a true win/loss condition rather than a simple beat-your-own-score scenario.
Art and General Design:
The art style of Viscounts of the West Kingdom is charming and vibrant, with colorful illustrations that give the townsfolk a lot of personality. The game is visually appealing and looks fantastic on the table. The back of the rulebook includes a quick reference for effects, which is a great refresher and helps clarify the iconography. Speaking of which, the game minimizes text on the cards, using icons to keep things clear and easy to understand. The custom-shaped buildings and viscount pieces are delightful touches that enhance the overall experience. I am also surprised about just how much game fits in a small game box. Don't let the box size fool you, this game will take up your ENTIRE table!
Expansions:
Viscounts of the West Kingdom has two expansions: Gates of Gold and Keeper of Keys.
Gates of Gold adds new complexity with the introduction of Outsiders, King's Orders, and manuscript boards. The manuscript boards unlock new abilities, such as converting resources or taking new actions. King's Orders are new cards that allow interaction with Outsiders, either welcoming them to the village or refusing them to gain silver and refresh available Outsiders. This expansion also includes new Townsfolk for the base game.
Keeper of the Keys adds more townsfolk and manuscripts, including new starting townsfolk, which provide fresh gameplay experiences. It introduces three public buildings to compete for and chest tiles that grant bonuses when players move to certain spaces. One of my favorite features of this expansion is the thicker player boards with cutouts for pieces, a quality of life improvement over the base game's thinner boards.
Both expansions are easy to integrate and add enjoyable complexity to the game.
Concluding Thoughts:
Viscounts of the West Kingdom is a rich, strategic game that offers deep gameplay and a rewarding experience. Its complexity, engaging solo mode, and beautiful design make it a standout in my collection. The expansions further enhance the game, providing new layers of strategy and enjoyment. If you're looking for a game that will challenge your mind and offer endless replayability, Viscounts of the West Kingdom is an excellent choice.
The cat's meow:
If you seek a game that tickles your whiskers with its complexity and strategic depth, then Viscounts of the West Kingdom will surely be the purrfect choice for your collection. Every decision counts, and each path offers a new adventure. Pawsitively delightful!!" - Solo the Spokescat
Disclosure: Pudgy Cat Games was provided a copy of this game in exchange for a review, however, this review reflects the honest thoughts of the author.
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