Critique-al Hit: 3 Cozy Board Games
Board games are having a moment. New ones are popping up almost daily and with so many to choose from it can be difficult to sort through what’s available. With winter coming, for the Northern Hemisphere anyway, and the current state of the world, it’s a great time to dive into some cozy games and we’ve picked out three great ones for you to check out.
ArchRavels
If you are looking for a bright, colorful game and are into crafting, especially fiber arts, look no further than ArchRavels from XYZ Game Labs. In the crafty world of ArchRavels you’ll play one of four character archetypes, Thrifty Shopper, Master Crafter, Color Specialist, or Yarn Spinner. The cast of characters is diverse with representation from all walks of life and each archetype has two characters to choose from.
ArchRavels gameplay is simple to pick up and fun for anyone, even those not particularly into crafting or fiber arts. It’s designed for two to four players and a game takes roughly 30-45 minutes. Gameplay includes shopping for yarn and choosing from the available crafting projects to make items to earn points. There are random events that can happen like yarn sales or a kitty getting tangled in your yarn and special requests you can craft for huge bonus points.
ArchRavels is one of those infinitely replayable games that is always loads of fun. XYZ Game Labs is currently working on the production for the long awaited expansions for ArchRavels. ArchRavels Magic Socks will bring in two new archetypes (Maker and Expert), four new characters, and new gameplay abilities in the form of Magic Socks.
This first expansion will also come with their first Theme Pack, Enchanted, to bring in new items you can craft like the Snuggle Owlbear or Hood of Hiding. There are three other Theme Packs also being released in tandem with this first expansion, Cuddles, Cryptids, and Dinos.
In addition to all of this, there are also two “mini-expansions” coming out. Awards Season and Rivals. Awards Season will bring new forms of gameplay including ArchRavel’s first official solo-play mode. Rivals will bring two new Magic Socks and new Special Requests and Events that can ramp up the competitive play.
Flamecraft
Flamecraft, from Cardboard Academy, is set in a magical realm where the players, or Flamekeepers, help boost the economy of the realm by assigning specialized dragons and enchantments to various shops to gain reputation and favor. The game is designed for between one and five players and a round takes about an hour.
The artisan dragons described by the designers as “smaller and magically talented versions of their larger (and destructive) cousins” have six different specialties. There are bread, meat, crystal, plant, iron, and potion dragons all available to place in the shops where their skills will be put to the best use. You gather items to help enchant the shops and as you gain reputation and favors from all the artisan dragons, you may be able to attract larger fancier dragons to help boost your reputation even further. All this works toward your goal of becoming the Master of Flamecraft.
While there are no current expansions in the works, there are wonderfully cozy add-ons you can pick up. There are four snuggly plushies, bookmarks, stickers, enamel pins, and coasters for folks who enjoy the art. And people looking to upgrade their gameplay can buy custom metal tokens, jumbo wooden tokens, and a special set of minis that upgrade the in game dragon meeples to paintable 3D miniatures.
Wingspan
Next up on the cozy list is Wingspan. This card-driven delight from Stonemaier Games is often referred to as “The Pretty Bird Game,” which is an apt description. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, the core game features 180 bird cards that are each beautifully illustrated by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo. It is great for anyone who loves our feathered friends.
In Wingspan, you play as bird enthusiasts who are out to discover the best birds available to bring into your personal network of wildlife preserves. The game is for one to five players and takes around an hour to play one full session. Each player is working toward their own personal game goals in tandem to the per-round goals that all players work toward. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
There are many ways to earn points in Wingspan but the key is to use each bird’s individual abilities to help bolster your habitat. You can create powerful combinations that will have you racking up points toward your win. The game ramps up very quickly in rounds three and four and most games end with scores being very close.
Wingspan boasts three expansions. The European Expansion bulks up the base game with 81 new birds as well as new round goals, eggs, bonus cards and more. The Oceana Expansion ads a new type of food and new gameplay rules, in addition to another new egg color and 95 more birds. The latest expansion is the Asia Expansion which adds another 90 birds, new gameplay modes including a new stand-alone Duet Mode designed specifically for two player games, and so much more.
In terms of extras, Wingspan has more than we could list in a single article. From Fan-made, Dev-approved supplements to “Golden” Eggs sold for charity to a giant nesting box to hold all four games together, there is so much out there that can add to your Wingspan experience. And possibly the best part is that Wingspan lives up to their theme of conservation. From recyclable materials to plastics made from renewable sugarcane, their goals it to make the world a better place. This extends to their commitments to social issues which are outlined on their website.
The world is pretty scary for many folks right now and the darker days of winter creeping in aren’t helping. Luckily there are many great cozy games out there to bring us all a little comfort and joy.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve played any of these games or if you have others you think we should take a look at!
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