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Game Info
Year
2021
Players
1-4
Age
14+
Playtime
120 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Expansions & Family
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
A century from now all that remains of Earth is the detritus that humanity left behind. The races of a neighboring solar system have a penchant for artifacts left behind by extinct races. In Excavation Earth, you lead one of these races of alien explorers on their quest to excavate rare human artifacts and curate the ultimate art collection to sell off.
Excavation Earth is divided into three rounds, each of which starts with players drafting a hand of multi-use cards that will be used to perform actions. Players then take quick turns playing actions that allow them to move their explorers around the world map, excavate for artifacts, and deploy traders to bazaars and influencers to affect prices and wheel and deal on the black market.
The artifacts you dig up can be either sold to the bazaars housed on one of the aliens' ships that landed on Earth or added to a collection that will be sold off as a coherent art collection to museums back home. Excavation Earth ends after three rounds and the player who makes the most money during the game wins.
Excavation Earth includes a solo mode by Nick Shaw and Dávid Turczi.
—description from the publisher
Excavation Earth Family
(2 games)
This page includes videos and mentions from the whole Excavation Earth family. Drill into a specific game below.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 9
This page: 9
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–9 of 9
Video xTuGIa80-rM
Getting Games Discussion at 3:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91333 · mention_pk 244956
Click to watch at 3:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- artifact excavation / post-apocalyptic earth
- human civilization on earth has failed; aliens have come to pillage artifacts
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Draft multi-use cards to perform actions over three rounds.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a ravans burger release and they're a huge board game publisher
- it's a cooperative dice game
- Back to the Future as a movie franchise is all about time travel
- you are going to be building out network tiles all across this map
- hidden movement
- I think this is a wonderful looking cover
- this is an incredibly ambitious game
- the decisions that you make have a lasting impact on game to game
- history is embedded in each copy
- there are no scripted narratives or predetermined end points
- it's a work replacement style game but the workers are communal
- the unique meeple distribution system and innovative mechanism of mining the resources
- the card game looks like it has a lot of similar things to fresco the main game
- in the dice game version you are going to be rolling dice exactly three times
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Brjz8khzww8
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:28:54 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 90504 · mention_pk 241896
Click to watch at 1:28:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Strategically deep with simple-to-learn actions
- Engaging market manipulation
- Clever use of multi-use cards
- Good component quality and iconography
- Unique theme
- Solo mode available
Cons
- Frustration from not drawing needed cards.
- Can be difficult to get the specific cards needed for desired actions.
- The card draw and artifact availability can sometimes lead to feelings of bad luck.
- Requires significant pre-planning and programming of actions.
Thematic elements
- aliens collecting Earth artifacts
- Earth after humanity's departure, occupied by aliens
- economic, set collection, market manipulation
Comparison games
- City of the Big Shoulders
- Railways of the World
- 18xx games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players vie for influence and control over different regions on the board.
- Drafting — Players draft cards at the beginning of each round.
- Market manipulation — Players' actions directly affect the prices and demand for artifacts.
- Multi-Use Cards — Cards can be used for various actions, requiring strategic choices.
- Set Collection — Collecting sets of artifacts of different types or colors for points.
- Worker Placement — Players place their 'explorers' and 'market representatives' to take actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Southern rails is a fast playing game for three to five players in the tradition of simple but engaging rail games like transamerica and northern pacific
- it is a train game well it's not a pickup and delivery train game it is a stock game
- The initiative which is a cooperative deduction game
- this is a narrative game that you're basically going to play through just once it's just kind of a one and done
- Murder at the oakdale club you probably weren't very excited about it oh yeah you don't remember i said oh i i stink at these games
- we are the key to solving these murders
- excavation earth excavation earth excavation but the reason why i kept thinking evacuation is because nobody's on earth anymore we've evacuated it
- how much programming ahead do i have to do because these multi-use cards will determine which actions you take
- i typically like market games but in the games that we played i was always really struggling to get the right card that i wanted
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Brjz8khzww8
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:29:10 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 90504 · mention_pk 241905
Click to watch at 1:29:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Mixed
Pros
- Cool theme
- Good components and iconography
- Engaging market mechanics
- Potential for strategic depth
Cons
- Frustration with not drawing needed cards
- Difficulty in planning ahead
- Can be heavily impacted by card draw luck
- Potential for runaway leader
Thematic elements
- Aliens collecting artifacts
- Earth (post-evacuation)
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose from various actions using their cards.
- Area Control — Introduced in later rounds, players can gain popularity in regions to enact special actions.
- Card Drafting — Players draft cards at the beginning of each round.
- Hand Management — Managing cards in hand is crucial for performing actions and meeting requirements.
- Market Simulation — Players interact with a market where the value of goods changes based on supply and demand.
- Set Collection — Collecting artifacts for a 'sample gallery' to complete rows and columns provides victory points.
- Variable player powers — Each alien race has unique special powers.
- Worker Placement — Placing cubes in markets to facilitate transactions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Southern rails is a fast playing game for three to five players in the tradition of simple but engaging rail games like transamerica and northern pacific
- it is a train game well it's not a pickup and delivery train game it is a stock game
- The initiative which is a cooperative deduction game
- this is a narrative game that you're basically going to play through just once it's just kind of a one and done
- Murder at the oakdale club you probably weren't very excited about it oh yeah you don't remember i said oh i i stink at these games
- we are the key to solving these murders
- excavation earth excavation earth excavation but the reason why i kept thinking evacuation is because nobody's on earth anymore we've evacuated it
- how much programming ahead do i have to do because these multi-use cards will determine which actions you take
- i typically like market games but in the games that we played i was always really struggling to get the right card that i wanted
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KRS1nZWotFA
Meeple University Playthrough
video_pk 70139 · mention_pk 167040
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3S_MU8Byni8
Board Stupid Interview at 4:26 sentiment: positive
video_pk 31977 · mention_pk 94358
Click to watch at 4:26 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging theme and accessible to new players
- Fits well with other heavy euros
Cons
- Can be heavy for new players
- Requires table space
Thematic elements
- archaeological excavation and artifact curation
- Space-age archaeology exploring alien ruins
- story-driven with progression
Comparison games
- Hamlet
- Patchwork
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area control / resource management — control areas and manage resources to score
- Set Collection — collect artifacts and build a collection
- set collection / collection building — collect artifacts and build a collection
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's been really great people really really love it
- the main idea for fate forge is actually accessibility
- you can play sessions of one hour
- the app will remember everything you do and next time you play you just take it back out of the box and you start playing again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video a_n2fl3n0D8
Meeple Mountain Discussion at 0:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 29980 · mention_pk 87985
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- deep strategic depth with crunchy, overlapping decisions
- high replayability due to dynamic markets and card drafting
- excellent components and organization (double-layered boards)
- clear thematic integration with euro-style mechanics
Cons
- high complexity and brain burn; may be tight for some groups
- interaction-heavy systems can slow play at times
- learning curve to master interlocking mechanics
Thematic elements
- artifact collection and selling in a dynamic market
- Earth, far future; alien races exploring a humanless Earth to excavate artifacts
- economy-driven eurogame flavor with sci-fi overtones
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action economy — each turn you take two actions (same or different) from a pool of up to eight options
- Area majority scoring — envoy cubes and command center control influence scoring opportunities across rounds
- drafting and card play — rounds include drafting cards to shape options and engine state
- Market manipulation — buyers appear in markets with cycling demand; payouts depend on supply and popularity
- Resource Management — manage trader and explorer cubes, storage, and holds to optimize selling opportunities
- Set Collection — collect artifacts and sample them to score points based on rows/columns
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the area majority thing is pretty awesome
- the game provides excellent components with double layered player boards
- the end goal is clear but there are many choices to get to that goal
- this is an economic euro game using multi-use cards
- the game flow shows three rounds, with a lot of depth packed into each turn
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9vAiutGdmFE
Sir Thecos Review at 0:16 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10729 · mention_pk 31672
Click to watch at 0:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Intriguing alien archaeology theme with artifacts and exploration
- High-quality wooden components with tactile tokens
- Strong art direction and appealing cover art
- Inserts and board organization feel well thought-out
- Expansion content adds depth (two new factions, modules)
- Excellent value when bought on sale (base game plus expansion)
Cons
- Setup is notably large and can be unwieldy on camera
- Solo mode appears complex and may require two-handed setup or learning curve
- Some rule text is language-dependent in the base deck
- Posterior organization of components may require custom fitting back into the box
Thematic elements
- Archaeology, artifact collection, faction-driven competition
- Alien archaeologists explore a post-human Earth to recover human artifacts.
- Strategic exploration with modular factions and endgame scoring via a Mother Ship phase
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action selection from reference cards — Players choose actions from a fixed set of actions printed on reference cards to drive their turns.
- Artifact/token drafting and placement — Artifacts and tokens are drafted and placed on the board to generate resources and score points.
- Faction boards with unique abilities — Each faction has its own board and distinct abilities that shape strategy; expansion adds more factions.
- Modular Board — Expansion modules add new factions, cards, and objectives; vanilla play is recommended first.
- Modular expansions content — Expansion modules add new factions, cards, and objectives; vanilla play is recommended first.
- Mother Ship phase — A special end-of-turn phase that influences scoring and game progression.
- Solo mode with enemy/clones — A dedicated solo mode uses enemy figures to simulate opposition and challenge.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is how the game looks like very cool I like it that they show actually the entire game I think there's some cool like wooden components in here so I'm looking forward to taking a look at that
- it's a really big setup
- I really like the idea and the theme of the game
- I am looking forward to checking this game out
- The solo mode looks pretty complex, so I might need to play two-handed first to check out how the game plays
- I hope that the solo mode delivers
- I really like the cover art
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video YlsHw38Or_Y
cardboardrhino Review at 0:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10348 · mention_pk 30525
Click to watch at 0:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging artifact collection system with regional market dynamics
- Clear, thematic core loop combining exploration, trading, and gallery collection
- Dynamic demand and profile of buyers adding strategic depth
- Visible endgame scoring through galleries and command centers
Cons
- Can be quite complex; learning curve may be steep for new players
- Some fiddly interactions (smuggling, multiple market actions) could slow early play
- Specific regional color interactions may require careful tracking
Thematic elements
- artifact collection, market dynamics, and cross-species trade
- Earth in a post-human era where alien archaeologists excavate artifacts and trade them in alien markets
- strategic resource management with a thematic veneer of archaeology and interstellar commerce
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action card system — Main cards have a color tied to a region and a symbol corresponding to markets; they also provide fuel for travel
- Cargo Holds and Hidden Compartments — Artifacts go to cargo holds or a hidden hold for smuggling; samples can be taken and guarded by crew members
- Envoy/Command Center/Income — Promoted traders move to command centers as envoys; command centers provide ongoing income and have interactions with ability tiles
- Excavate/Artifact Acquisition — Enter a dig site with an explorer, discard a region-matching action card to excavate; multiple artifacts can be taken if a second explorer is in the region
- Market & Queue Dynamics — Markets have queues of buyers by region; demand shifts as new buyers join or leave the front; popularity affects payouts
- Smuggle and Black Market — Smuggling requires a black market site presence and a matching market icon; artifacts can be sold or acquired from black market stacks with credit costs and region considerations
- Survey/Forecast and Preparation — Surveyor forecasts guide which regions will gain artifacts next round; a survey action allows manipulation and initiative token management
- Travel/Movement — Discard an action card to move up to three steps for explorers (can be split among multiple explorers) or discard a travel card for 2–4 movement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Excavation Earth players take on the role of alien archaeologists in a non-inhabited Earth
- The equilibrium of the demand for artifacts can change rapidly
- There is a hidden compartment in your cargo hold to keep smuggled artifacts
- White buyers from the supply are wild buyers meaning that they're interested in any color of artifacts
- In the first round the player with the most cube in a particular command center gains 5 credits
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UlVkf2icREI
Before You Play Preview at 1:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2846 · mention_pk 8317
Click to watch at 1:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Rich, multi-layered economic engine with many interaction points
- Clear, satisfying scoring through gallery samples and market activity
- Distinct asymmetric abilities add variety and replayability
- Solid base rules foundation for expansion integration
Cons
- Rule complexity may be challenging for new players
- Some components and rules may be abstract or dense for beginners
Thematic elements
- Archaeology meets economic trading in a market-driven, artifact-focused economy.
- Earth in a grim post-human future where aliens excavate human artifacts to sell them for money.
- Competitive strategy with asymmetric factions, gallery scoring, and market-driven outcomes.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card-driven actions — Players use a hand of action and travel cards to perform moves, excavations, and marketplace actions.
- Market trading / buyer interaction — Place traders in markets and manage buyers to sell artifacts for credits.
- resource/hand management — Discard cards to perform actions and manage artifacts/samples for scoring.
- Set Collection — Artifacts collected are placed into a color-coded gallery to score points based on rows/columns.
- Set collection / gallery scoring — Artifacts collected are placed into a color-coded gallery to score points based on rows/columns.
- Staffing / asymmetry and scoring — Asymmetric faction abilities affect where you can excavate and how you score, with end-round scoring.
- Worker Placement — Move explorers around the board to dig sites and markets to access artifacts and action opportunities.
- Worker placement / exploration — Move explorers around the board to dig sites and markets to access artifacts and action opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game is an economic game
- the earth is no longer inhabited by humans
- they're gonna learn about us
- we're going to give a brief overview of those rules
- everybody has their own asymmetric ability as well
- there will be a link to the kickstarter campaign down below
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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Showing 1–9 of 9