There’s a lot to be said for clean, sleek design, especially in the chaotic world of board game kickstarters where busy, overdesigned products are often the rule rather than the exception. This is why I was pleasantly surprised by the crowdfunding campaign for Arctica, a competitive ecosystem-building game for one to four players. Its crisp aesthetic, modular board design, and novel gear-based player boards caught my attention among the scramble of board game crowdfunders. If you’re a fan of thoughtful, nature-focused games like Wingspan, it may well capture yours, too.
Currently in its preview stage, the crowdfunding campaign for Arctica is set to launch on October 6. However, despite being in this early stage, the campaign is already boasting plenty of information. In a game of Arctica, you’ll be guiding your array of wildlife through the changing ecosystem of the Arctic. You’ll have to migrate, colonize, and adapt as time passes, building engines and being mindful of the passage of time.
As you play through a game, the board itself changes to mark ecological events, while the gears on your player board grind ever onward, dispensing tokens and resources. This allows a savvy player to think ahead – a necessary skill, given Arctica’s simultaneous action system.
Though I’ve not played Arctica for myself, the crisp, clear design does put me in mind of some of the best board games out there. From bird sanctuary simulator Wingspan to the ruthless fantasy politics of The Old King’s Crown, the most acclaimed board games give players the tools to see just far ahead enough to make their strategic choices seem meaningful without giving too much of the mystery away – a feat Arctica is trying to replicate.
Though we don’t know if Arctica will reach these heights, the initial reception from the likes of Meeple University suggests a title that’s promising to say the least. I’ll certainly keep an eye on the campaign as it exits the preview stage in the imminent future.
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Source: Wargamer
