The board hoard
Recreate a galaxy far, far away on your kitchen table; compete to dominate a woodland canopy; or beat rival Japanese artists in a race to paint the emperor in our roundup of this month’s new board games
Star Wars: Legion
2 players, 60-120 minutes, ages 14+, £79.99
Designer: Alex Davy
From the snow-covered wastes of Hoth to the thick forests of Endor, battle scenes have provided some of the most exciting moments in the Star Wars saga. And if you’ve ever wanted to lead forces of stalwart troops into a storm of laser fire, the upcoming Star Wars: Legion offers the chance to become an elite general in a galaxy far, far away.
The game hands players command of plastic infantry units and vehicles, which you’ll assemble and paint, Airfix-style, before deploying them to your kitchen table. You’ll maneuver them painstakingly around the battlefield, rolling dice to determine how they perform in combat.
Legion lovingly recreates everything fans most fondly recall from the original films: Luke Skywalker’s swashbuckling heroism, Darth Vader’s implacable menace, stormtroopers’ inability to hit Han Solo at close range. As you play, you’ll almost be able to hear the thrum of lightsabers and the crunch of explosions.
It all combines to create an incredibly cinematic atmosphere. It’s also a deep and absorbing tactical challenge. You’ll have to play to your strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses, picking off their biggest threats and hitting them where they are least capable of resisting your attacks.
This strategic depth inevitably makes for a complex game, and it will take a little while to get your head around its systems for issuing orders and attacking enemies. But if you’re a tactically minded Star Wars fan, this is a tantalising chance to immerse yourself in the series’ pulse-pounding action. And with a line of new troops, leaders and vehicles set for release, it’s a universe that’s only going to expand.
Star Wars: Legion will be released on 22 March 2018.
Photosynthesis
2 – 4 players, 30 – 60 minutes, ages 10+, £37.99
Designer: Hjalmar Hach
If blasting your friends with laser cannons is a little too bloodthirsty for you, Photosynthesis might be more up your street. Players take control of species of trees, all vying to dominate a woodland canopy. You’ll compete to plant seeds in prime spots on the forest floor, growing your tiny saplings into towering giants.
It might all sound very sedate and gentle, but this is a game as fiercely competitive as natural selection itself. You’ll need to aggressively seize space on the board, thinking several moves ahead and cutting off opportunities for your rivals. You’ll aim to tower over your opponents’ trees, soaking up life-giving sunlight while casting them into shadow. It’s simple and elegant, but it squeezes some real thought out of its straightforward design.
It’s also visually striking. As you play, you’ll place three-dimensional cardboard trees on the board, creating a dense, colourful forest. It’s a pleasing combination of looks and brains, and it will bring you back to the table time and time again.
Sakura
2 – 6 players, 20 – 40 minutes, ages 10+, £21.99
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Set in feudal Japan, Sakura casts players as artists vying to paint portraits of the emperor as he wanders through his palace garden during the annual cherry blossom festival. You’ll try to shove your way to the front of the pack, getting close enough to capture the ruler’s likeness. But push too hard and there’s a risk that you’ll accidentally barge into him, bringing unbearable dishonour to your name.
The game revolves around a simple system of cards. You’ll choose one from your hand to play on each round, moving your painter along a winding path and budging rivals out of your way. But you’ll have to think carefully about how you position yourself. Getting too close too soon makes it easy for an unscrupulous player to nudge you into the emperor’s path, costing you precious points.
It’s light, quick and simple, rewarding ruthlessness and sharp elbows, and artist Kevin Hong’s visuals look like something from a luscious Studio Ghibli animation. But with smaller groups of players, its hectic rugby-scrum atmosphere starts to evaporate, and you’ll need four or more for the game to really shine.
What have you been playing this month? Let us know in the comments below. Read more....