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In the 1970s, the governments of the world faced unprecedented demand for energy, and polluting power plants were built everywhere in order to meet that demand. Year after year, the pollution they generate increases, and nobody has done anything to reduce it. Now, the impact of this pollution has become too great, and humanity is starting to realize that we must meet our energy demands through clean sources of energy. Companies with expertise in clean, sustainable energy are called in to propose projects that will provide the required energy without polluting the environment. Regional governments are eager to fund these projects and to invest in their implementation.
If the pollution isn't stopped, it's game over for all of us.
In the game CO₂, each player is the CEO of an energy company responding to government requests for new, green power plants. The goal is to stop the increase of pollution while meeting the rising demand for sustainable energy — and of course profiting from doing so. You will need enough expertise, money, and resources to build these clean power plants. Energy summits will promote global awareness, and allow companies to share a little of their expertise while learning still more from others.
In CO₂, each region starts with a certain number of carbon emissions permits (CEPs) at its disposal. These CEPs are granted by the United Nations, and they must be spent whenever the region needs to install the energy infrastructure for a project or to construct a fossil fuel power plant. CEPs can be bought and sold on a market, and their price fluctuates throughout the game. You will want to try to maintain control over the CEPs.
Money, CEPs, green power plants that you've built, UN goals you've completed, company goals you've met, and expertise you've gained all give you victory points (VPs), which represent your company's reputation — and having the best reputation is the goal of the game … in addition to saving the planet, of course.
This new totally re-designed edition of CO₂ features a completely new iconography, an entirely new rulebook with lots of 3D pictures for easy comprehension of the rules, more balanced gameplay, a new events deck, improved and streamlined mechanisms, and upgraded wooden components for the power plants instead of the cardboard tokens in a game with a shorter play length. This version also features a co-operative mode of play as well as solo play based on goals.
Cry Havoc - Game Play 3
- Strong puzzle element and collaborative dynamic
- Clear pivot point at stage four that guides strategic decisions
- Cooperative play fosters communication and planning
- High dependency on coordination and shared information
- The puzzle focus can reduce perceived uncertainty and challenge if information is too exposed
- Pandemic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_cards — There are action cards and other cards that players can use, with discussion about how they influence planning.
- board_as_mechanism — The game board effectively acts as an opposing force that players must navigate against.
- Cooperative Game — Players work together with shared information and coordinated actions.
- cooperative_play — Players work together with shared information and coordinated actions.
- deck_visibility_and_draw — Concentration of certain cards (e.g., fossil fuel plants) drawn from the deck affects strategy and risk assessment.
- hidden_vs_visible_information — Most information is available at the start; some information is hidden or revealed as the game progresses, with stage four highlighting strategic pivots.
- stage_based_effects — There are stage-based effects (e.g., stage four) that determine when and how to overbuild or discard, guiding decisions.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a co-op game
- almost all the information at the start of the game
- we were collaborating on a big pseudocode with game mechanics
- the only time it matters is once you get to stage four
- Dominion ... almost multiplayer solitaire
- Spirit Island mm-hmm a cooperative games that we like to play
- outbreak no no no yeah it can hit you immediately
References (from this video)
- Engaging cooperative puzzle
- Appealing visual components
- Can be quite challenging to win as a cooperative game
- Escape Plan
- Mars
- Dwarf Winter
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — The game is designed to be played cooperatively, with shared objectives and some semi-cooperative dynamics.
- cooperative play with shared goals — The game is designed to be played cooperatively, with shared objectives and some semi-cooperative dynamics.
- scientist tracks and resource management — Resource tracks (scientist track) influence income and progress toward goals.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's the perfect entry game because it has the most familiar mechanics
- the bank mechanic it was something I've never seen before
- cooperative mode as well as the normal multiplayer against each other mode
- the Neapolitan maples in the middle
- it's puzzle cooperative… more puzzling than other co-ops
References (from this video)
- Asymmetric factions offer unique strategic depth.
- Strategic defense and resource management are key.
- Tense late-game scoring creates excitement.
- The game provides a challenging area control struggle.
- Falling behind can lead to a deep hole, making recovery difficult.
- Mistakes in rules application can occur and need correction.
- environmental crisis, corporate greed, sustainable energy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players vie for control of regions on the map, indicated by placing control tokens and figures.
- asymmetric factions — Different factions have unique strengths and weaknesses that players need to exploit.
- Card Play — Players use cards for actions, special abilities, and battle effects.
- combat/battle — Battles occur in regions, involving figures, tokens, and battle cards, with outcomes determining points and control.
- Objective Fulfillment — Players aim to achieve objectives like region control and attrition damage for points.
- Resource Management — Players manage construction points and crystals for various actions like building and activating structures.
- token placement — Various tokens are used to represent structures, power extraction, and exploration outcomes.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- You've really been steamrolling uh through this game.
- I've dug myself into a hole too deep.
- tokens representing figures like the power extraction or Luke's artillery battery, as another example, cannot be targeted by effects, killed, or taken prisoner.
- This is the absolute worst that I could have gotten in that region.
- Even when he's not attacking, he's just collecting points.
- tokens cannot be targeted by attrition.
- Luke currently controls a scary amount of crystals.
- It's going to be tricky because you've very wisely placed out these battery tokens which are going to give you extra help in the battles to come.
- I feel confident we might be able to hold on to all the regions we currently have and not allow him to spread out further.
References (from this video)
- Tough but rewarding cooperative experience
- Engaging with shared objectives and occasional secrecy
- Very heavy for some players
- Semi-coop variant can feel rough
- eco-strategy and cooperation
- Global climate policy and renewable energy development
- cooperative with secret objectives
- Vital Lacerda co-ops
- Cooperative heavy euros
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players work together to manage CO2 and energy research, with a mix of cooperative and competitive signals.
- Cooperative/semicooperative play — Players work together to manage CO2 and energy research, with a mix of cooperative and competitive signals.
- Executive actions and multi-stage building — Players perform actions in stages, unlocking higher-power moves as the game progresses.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's so good. This is a fun one to bring out.
- Two teams trying to figure out the words each other's words by using numerical codes.
References (from this video)
- tightly designed, challenging
- cooperative/co-op options enable diverse play
- difficulty curve
- some scenarios can be punishing
- cooperative/competitive variants
- pollution cleanup; environmental engineering
- grim but hopeful
- Pandemic
- Coal Baron
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative vs semi-cooperative modes — choose fully co-op or semi-co-op with hidden objectives
- Player Board | Main Board — manage pollution and production effects across a shared board
- Semi-Cooperative — choose fully co-op or semi-co-op with hidden objectives
- tile/board interaction — manage pollution and production effects across a shared board
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a really intense game
- this is the meanest tree game out there
- it's the best trick-taking game of all time
- the economy in this game is probably one of the most interesting parts