As others have said, this is an excellent board game. The art is absolutely beautiful, and it is genuinely fun to explore the new sites with their corresponding guardians. The research track is sometimes said to be less fun, and it is more or less buying victory points. However, as an academic, I can really appreciate that thematic implementation of an expedition. The search and discovery it represents, with the magnifying glass going first followed by publishing research, is satisfying along with the research assistants it enables you to recruit along the way that come when you publish your research (i.e. move your journal token up the track). The art in the research track is fun as well, and I think it has Latin notes scribbled in small font along it as well, as the researchers get progressively more excited by their discoveries! I thought this was going to be a downside, but it surprised me in how much I enjoyed the track as a thematic game mechanic.
Two other important notes:
1) With new items and artifacts played out in each game, along with the new worker placement sites and guardians that are randomly laid out each game - the game is highly replayable with lots of variety.
2) The game uses a lot of mechanics, part worker placement, part deck building (with thin decks), part resource management, and part exploration. However, in my mind, I like this a lot as it forces you to not focus too much on just perfecting one particular mechanic or part of your engine and forget what you are playing. By masterfully integrating a number of different mechanics, it allows those mechanics to fade into the background as you focus on thematically running an expedition.
My only negative is that there are a lot of options to choose from, and towards the end game it can invite analysis paralysis that can delay the game. I hope that this goes away with more play throughs. In general, there are enough options and mechanics to choose from each turn that no matter what you do, it will net you points in a positive way with some fun combos to boot. There is just the right amount of randomization and luck to make you feel rewarded with an earned victory when a strategy pays off, and also not feel too bad about it when you don't win.
I look forward to trying the Expedition Leaders expansion soon!
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From the brand
Who We Are
Established in 2007, Czech Games Edtion (CGE) is dedicated to crafting innovative board games. Our passion for games drives us forward.
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Founded in 2007, Czech Games Edition (CGE) released our first title, Galaxy Trucker by Vlaada Chvátil.
Since then, CGE has published over 40 games and expansions, including Codenames, Alchemists, Tzolk’in, Letter Jam, Pulsar 2849, Dungeon Petz, Space Alert, Last Will, Tash-Kalar, and many others.
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Shop the Codenames Family!
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Codenames is a global phenomenon, with over 14 million copies sold! Engaging and fun for the whole family, kids to grandparents alike!
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At CGE (Czech Games Edition), we are the inventors, manufacturer, and publisher of all our games! After design, development, and manufacturing in the Czech Republic, we work with partners to distribute our games worldwide!
Our company headquarters is in Prague, and we have a secondary office in Brno. There, we have a full digital team that works on our apps and digital game implementations for phones, tablets, and computers!
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Compare with similar items
This Item  Czech Games CGE Edition Lost Ruins of Arnak |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -30% $41.96 List: $59.95 | $29.95 | -12% $52.98 List: $60.00 | -20% $31.97 List: $39.99 | -20% $51.83 List: $64.99 | -37% $21.99 List: $34.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 3 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Easy to learn | ||||||
| Giftable | ||||||
| Sold By | CGE Czech Games Edition | CGE Czech Games Edition | Buckeye Trading | Amazon.com | GNS Products Limited | Amazon.com |
| genre | Strategy | Strategy | Strategy, Wargame | Family | Strategy | entertainment |
| material | Cardboard | Cardboard | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| number of players | 1 to 4 | 1 to 4 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 5 | 2 |
| number of pieces | 362 | 97 | 1 | — | 120 | 1 |
| CPSIA | no warning applicable | no warning applicable, choking hazard small parts | no warning applicable, choking hazard small parts | choking hazard small parts, no warning applicable | choking hazard small parts, no warning applicable | choking hazard small parts, no warning applicable |
| weight | 2.1 kilograms | — | 1 kilograms | 1100 grams | 1000 grams | 500 grams |
Reviews with images
A critical thinking/planning worker placement deck-building game with beautiful artwork
Likes:1. combines worker placement with deck building. Both are equally important2. the artwork is well done. No one will complain about it.3. items and artifacts available up top change over time, so you have to adjust with the game4. you always have many options to make in the game (often like 6 available things: several locations to go, buy a card, play a card, research). Note: you can only do one a turn so if there is a really good item you think everyone wants, you should buy it as your first move.5. all the mechanics one their own are simple to comprehend (mixing them together is when it gets interesting...)6. cards have icons super easy to understand (there is no small text anywhere in the game!!)7. good components in the game (Chucky plastic pieces for gems, arrows, tablets)Dislikes:1. analysis paralysis can be a lot, especially the last rounds. I can take minutes to plan things out optimally. If you miscalculate, you are left behind usually and feel meh. Hopefully you have forgiving playmates. (example: exploring new locations gives you blue tokens, and those tokens can help you get resources, and then you can use those resources to move up the research track before my opponent, which will then get me a bonus resource, and I can use that bonus resources to explore a new location again, get those blue tokens again, and then use those resources to go up the research track... and so on). If done optimally, that is what the last round should often sound like.My opinion of the game: I like the engine building and critical thinking. It is a challenge to do everything optimally. The theme and artwork make the whole process more enjoyable. I think you can also tone back the heavy thinking and enjoy the journey as well.And lastly, the price and value. I got it for $60 with amazon prime. That price is fair. I would not spend more than $70/$75 for this unless it really sounds like your type of game.I hope this helps your purchase decision! :) bye bye world!
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Top reviews from other countries
Miguel Angel Flores
Señor juegazo con múltiples mecánicas enlazadas perfectamente.
Reviewed in Mexico on April 6, 2022Style: CGE CzechVerified Purchase
Miguel Angel Flores
Reviewed in Mexico on April 6, 2022
Combina colocación de trabajadores con una pseudo construcción de mazo, gestión de recursos, avance por un track, etc, etc, de manera perfecta y que te hacen estrujarte la mente para maximizar tus jugadas.
Al principio cuesta un poco entender todas las opciones que el juego te ofrece, pero tras unos cuantos turnos fluye a la perfección y la segunda partida se disfruta muchísimo más.
Los componentes son de muy buena calidad: recursos altamente detallados, cartas de muy buen gramaje, tablero de doble cara y losetas de buen grosor.
Es poco dependiente del idioma, ya que las cartas que tienen texto son de nivel básico y con la simbología se entienden la mayoría fácilmente.
Un "must have" de los juegos de mesa modernos. Y con la expansión y su asimetría mejora aún más.
Lo conseguí en oferta y no puedo estar más contento.
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Cory Schlichting
Package arrived with no damage and on time!
Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2022Style: CGE CzechVerified Purchase
Jaymeen
Excellent game with cool theme
Reviewed in India on August 18, 2023Style: CGE CzechVerified Purchase
Amazon Kunde
Sehr gutes Spiel
Reviewed in Germany on February 21, 2022Style: CGE CzechVerified Purchase
M. M. Cowper
Heavy duty Boardgame - highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2021Style: CGE CzechVerified Purchase
