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Game Info
Year
2013
Players
1-4
Age
10+
Playtime
45 min
Complexity
1.7/5
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
In Gravwell, players command spaceships that have been pulled through a black hole, transporting them into a different dimension. With each ship lacking fuel to get home, each player must collect basic elements from surrounding asteroids, using the gravity of the dimension and what little resources they have in order to reach the warp gate that will take them home. But in this dimension, moving ships will travel towards the nearest object, which is usually another ship, and when those objects are moving either forward or backward, reaching the warp gate isn't always easy. Time is running out to save your crew and your ship! As a grim reminder of the cost of failing to escape, the frozen hulks of dead spacecraft litter the escape route — but with careful card play, you can slingshot past these derelict craft and be the first to escape from the Gravwell!
Gravwell uses 26 alphabetized cards to determine movement order and thrust; most cards move your ship towards the nearest object, but a few move you away from it. At the start of each round, players draft fuel cards, picking up three pairs of two cards, with only the top card of each pile being visible; you get some information as to which moves you can expect from the other spaceships, but you won't know which moves you'll be forced to make when you draft your cards!
During a round, each player will play all of their fuel cards in the order of their choosing. During each phase of a round, each player chooses one card, then all cards are revealed and resolved in alphabetical order. When your opponents move in ways you didn't expect, you won't always be heading in the direction you thought you would! Each player holds an "Emergency Stop" card that they may tactically play only once per round to avoid such a situation.
Whoever first reaches the warp gate wins, but if no one has escaped after six rounds, then the player who is closest to the gate wins.
Featured Videos
Rules Teach
Gravwell - Game Play 1
Playthrough
Gravwell - Game Play 2
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 13
This page: 13
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–13 of 13
Video Bs8cb4JQJ1g
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Top List at 56:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 98386 · mention_pk 273362
Click to watch at 56:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- A worthwhile nominee.
- Well-loved by the hosts.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Escape/Exploration
- Sci-Fi/Space
Comparison games
- Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action programming — Implied by the 'gravwell' mechanic, likely involving movement based on programmed actions.
- Set Collection — Potentially used for collecting resources or objectives.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Brian Boru High King of Ireland as soon as you put that on the on the table and as soon as I saw trick taking I was like uh oh I'm all in I I pushed all the chips in I was fully engaged in this game
- Clash of cultures Monumental Edition I'd like to commend the design development and Publishing team behind K C it's varied in strategy epic in scale and thankfully foot powder free
- man it's one of those games for me that just created an experience every time I played and I've played with four player I've played with three player I've played with two player and every single time I enjoyed what that game brought to the table
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mQuHoH4oNo4
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 1:44 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93608 · mention_pk 254143
Click to watch at 1:44 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- won this time
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's been a wonderful day so far we started around one o'clock we're going to like six o'clock and i think the last count was we had like 60 plus people going on yeah easily 60 plus marty and it's been a day of nothing but classic games
- if you know coo that's the kind of game you got going on there
- it's been a great experience so far
- international tabletop day is awesome
- play more games and keep rolling dice
- and taking names
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hEJCzB7umAw
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 14:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93575 · mention_pk 259901
Click to watch at 14:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Five-six player expansion works well, creating interesting dynamics
- Even in last place, it's possible to catch up
- Mechanics work really well
- Still fun with the expansion
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- player count expansion — An expansion is being developed to allow for five to six players.
- Two-Sided Gameplay — In the expansion, three players try to get out of the middle, and three players try to get in, creating two distinct groups that interact.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- if you've ever seen pictures of J con as the ventar gets R open you know how much of a mad house it is well this is a smaller con so I'm going to show you what it looks like and how see how Gen Con compares to Origins
- It's a good deal they brought 100 copies we got kind of a running bet going around here on how soon they'll sell out because we think it's going to be pretty quick
- I was big on dead of winter last year I think it's a great CAU game with a potential of a Traer aspect to it
- it's a lot of fun one of the so the hunters are are going around the map and using their line of sight to try to find the spy and then they get shots at him and depending on how far the away they are how how effective those shots are and uh in the in the five player game one of those Huns is a traiter so you might think that okay well we got this street covered he's looking there but one of these guys could be the spine so he could have crossed there and so it it totally it's a you know it's a mind game and starts to get in the Hunter's head nobody trusts anybody
- Unique Mechanics are there's a insider trading element so everyone gets a secret piece of information and they're trying to deduce what the other pieces of information that players have but the main mechanic is the big and that's what people love you place cards face up and face down and then bid on them using your secret information it's a blast
- it is a really really good 5 to 10 minute game it's amazing um it will teach you to subliminally think like two three four turns ahead and it's very simple you pick it up there's five cards in the game there's 16 total but you Shuffle up and you only use five they tell you how you can move your pieces and the object is either capture your opponent's king or be able to get your king into your opponent's starting space it's really really quick easy to learn really really fun play and you can play a lot of games in a short amount of time
- This is a really fun and exciting game it's set in this fantasy steampunk world where you are an entrepreneur trying to help finish off this Grand City of gears and every game there's going to be nine tiles that are randomly laid out you're going to have to use your workers to explore the city and discover what's out there so every game it's going to be different
- Mage Wars right now big game little bit of a complex game it's designed for specific type of gamer a lot of people look at it and maybe go well that might be a little too much I maybe don't want to jump into it Academy is actually going to be designed for that new player it's going to take existing players and give them a more portable faster way to play but it's also going to be a lower barrier to entry for newer players
- what I feel like I won but but you didn't who did win we'll get to that we'll get to that we'll get let's not ruin it let's not ruin it let's keep going
- even in last place it also makes it a little bit easier to play because you just go as forward as fast as you can well I ended up catching back up with everybody and then we made a game out of it I thought I was out of it but I was still right back in it so I think the Mechanics Work really well
- the nice thing of letting Marty win yes was really nice orchestrated that okay that had to come out
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video staFWDffG3Y
Watch It Played Discussion at 3:40
video_pk 92286 · mention_pk 259890
Click to watch at 3:40 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- My name is Rodney Smith and this is going to be a quick episode.
- Gen Con 2015 is going to be starting and I am not ready at all.
- Those jokers don't even know what's coming because me and Marty have been practicing behind the scenes.
- if nothing else, if we lose, it's probably going to be spectacular.
- if there's one thing that I'm terrible at at Gen Con, it's stopping and eating because there's so much going on, it just feels hard to justify it.
- However, Indiegogo has a rule that says you cannot have raffles, giveaways, lotteryies, that sort of thing involved in your perks.
- And the winner is, hey, it's John Karns.
- the content on the channel is going to take a little bit of a nose dive over the next few days. the next week really because I'll be at Gen Con and I'd love to see you there.
- So, the whole thing I am certain is going to be an absolute gong show.
- Lots of people just everyone in good spirits having some spirits and celebrating the end of the convention on a real high note.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video g2QyY9bQhW8
Meeple University Rules Teach at 0:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 70025 · mention_pk 239254
Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Chaos and unpredictable movement can lead to interesting situations.
- Drifting mechanic can create chain reactions.
- Drafting mechanism for new hands adds strategic choice.
Cons
- Movement might not be in the intended direction.
Thematic elements
- race using gravity-powered engines
- space
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft piles of three cards (two face-up, one face-down) to form their hand for the next round. The first player chooses a pile, and then selections proceed clockwise or anti-clockwise.
- Drifting — If a player's movement would cause them to land on another object, they continue moving until the next open space.
- emergency stop — Allows a player to discard the card they've played without resolving it if it's on the charged side. Recharges at the start of a new round.
- Multi-point Repulsor Beam — The player stays stationary and pushes all other objects this many spaces away from their ship, starting from the nearest objects and finishing with the furthest.
- Multi-point Tractor Beam — Draws all other objects in the gravwell this many spaces towards the player's ship without the ship moving. Resolves from nearest to furthest objects. If tied, attracts from nearer the inner warp gate first.
- Repulsor Beam — Locks on to the nearest source of mass and moves that many steps away from that object.
- Ship Abilities — Each ship has three unique abilities that start uncharged. They charge when a specific condition is met (e.g., ending movement on a debris field, drifting over objects) and can be uncharged to resolve their effect.
- tractor beam — Locks on to the nearest single source of mass (another ship or space junk) and moves that number of spaces in that direction. Ignores objects in warp gates. If equidistant, moves towards the side with more mass. If still tied, does not move.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hi everyone it's tyrone and stella from meeple university thank you for being here today we'll be teaching you how to play gravwell the second edition
- Chaos will abound as players set their propulsion or repulsion engines and then lock on to the nearest source of mass in order to determine which direction they move which may not be in the direction they are intending.
- The first to reach their target warp gate wins the game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video nQwI8au_Bps
Meeple University Playthrough at 4:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 70047 · mention_pk 240136
Click to watch at 4:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High-energy, chaotic racing with accessible rules
- Asymmetric powers add strategic depth
- Quick rounds; good for groups and streams
- Thematic components and production value (crates, ship colors, etc.)
Cons
- Rules not intuitive on some platforms (e.g., BGA); solo play rules missing in newer edition
- Different editions (2nd edition) introduce artwork changes and asymmetry that may confuse players
- Chaos can be overwhelming for some players
Thematic elements
- gravity-powered movement and space race
- space ships racing in warp gates
Comparison games
- Camel Up
- Call Express
- Terra Mystica
- Agricola
- Caverna
- Cabana
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card resolution order — resolve the cards in alphabetical order
- Chargeable powers — powers that can be charged to modify cards or grant effects
- Crates / space junk — space crates (Renegade logo) affect play
- emergency stop — once per round, stop a ship from moving in the wrong direction
- Movement based on closest object — tractor beams move the closest space object by the card's number
- Orange multi-point pulses — push all objects away from you
- Purple multi-point tractors — move all objects toward you
- Ram / pull interactions — cards can pull or push ships, including ramming and cloaking effects
- Repulsor beams — move away from the closest object
- Simultaneous card play — six fuel cards in hand; players simultaneously choose one per turn and reveal
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's kind of like a chaotic race
- gravity is the great natural catch-up mechanic
- six fuel cards in hand
- simultaneously choose one each per turn and then reveal them
- resolve the cards in alphabetical order
- you can only have one ship on a space
- the end of a cycling road race because you're just kind of pelotoning your way along
- the abilities to provide an illusion of control I like that
- this is a short game because all the three players it's just a short game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0A8-dO-A7Nw
Ryan and Bethany board game reviews Top List at 11:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 69782 · mention_pk 166494
Click to watch at 11:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Chaotic and fun
- Engaging for families who like space themes
Cons
- Potentially chaotic with many players
Thematic elements
- gravity-influenced movement
- space race track
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — move on a track based on gravity to reach goal
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a fantastic party game it's very very accessible
- Cooperative games work really well when you're trying to introduce new mechanisms to people
- Seven Wonders is such a great year it's a classic practically
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Ma8k-QKkPgI
watch it play TBL Discussion at 0:45
video_pk 69092 · mention_pk 165422
Click to watch at 0:45 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hi everyone welcome to watch it play TBL
- my name is Rodney Smith in this weekly segment I propose a gaming related topic share my initial thoughts on it and then invite your responses through the YouTube comments and your own videos that I'll compile into next week's table TalkBack episode that way we can all participate in the conversation
- this week's going to be a little bit different though I recently got back from the gamma trade show and I had shot quite a bit of footage there which I put online on the channel you may have seen some of that and I wanted to do a wrap-up video to sort of I don't know summarize my experience there and perhaps answer some additional questions that you might have about the show
- what I want to do here is just invite you if you have any questions at all about the videos that I posted conversations I had with Publishers or their Premier presentations that maybe I didn't answer directly in the videos feel free to put them in the comments below and I will do my best during this week to get those answers for you I might even have an opportunity to talk to some of those Publishers if I don't personally know the answers myself
- don't forget of course forbidden Stars the big released from Fantasy Flight Games was announced there so if you have any specific questions about that game I did do a half demo and I'm sure there are people who are curious about how it works I'll do my best to draw in my memory to try to answer those questions
- any questions you have just put them in the comments below and next week I'll come back and try to answer as many of them as possible and that will provide a little bit of a wrap up to the gamma trade show experience for me and for what I was able to share with you guys from being there
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video hHLb7E-e8JA
Watch It Played Playthrough
video_pk 68668 · mention_pk 164948
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)
- hey everyone welcome back to watch it played
- you're all still miles ahead of me
- finally I'm back in this game a commanding second place yes
- well this is terrible my radium is going to move me nine spaces backwards because there's more ships back here
- this is a wacky edition we're in right here
- holy oh dear
- Oh no they're all getting stuck
- I wish we had like a flushing sound into the cosmic toilet
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NJW8aUff7o0
Watch It Played Rules Teach
video_pk 68669 · mention_pk 164949
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)
- hi everyone welcome back to watch it play
- this is the first time we've all been together to play a game on the show
- So first we have to deot the fuel cards that we'll be choosing and do three times the number players.
- The ninth Dimension that's uh that's one dimension more than the eighth Dimension I believe.
- Well while we Ponder those Mysteries let's go to the table and we'll set up to play
- I'm escaping next magnesium Luke 10 spaces huge and Luke went forward cuz he's being pulled towards the closest ship which is mine here
- Oh so I have been left in the dust here.
- I like being the back here right because I'm always going to get pulled forward unless one of you guys do play first and get sucked behind me that could be a problem.
- Well listen listen I feel bad for you let me use my tractor beam I'm going to pull you back out one two three oh that's nice of you you're such a cutie.
- Oh no no no no I played I played too high of a letter emergency stop thank you exactly I still have mine I will use it so I don't go any where.
- Well pep now you're really far behind so you definitely definitely are going to be going forward this time I should hope.
- Oh dear if you guys trade spots yeah very much so.
- I'm starting to take this personal.
- I'm getting left in the dust the space dust you might say.
- I'd rather be up there with where Luke is yeah you're doing all right but you do have that problem being so far ahead of us nothing else surrounds you repulsors yeah you're going to want repulsors.
- put your suggestions in the comments below and if you like what someone suggested give them a thumbs up and if you don't like what someone suggested suggest something of your own
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TrwkNt9rwMw
Watch It Played Live Chat at 23:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 68670 · mention_pk 248033
Click to watch at 23:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- would be great for three-player
- would be fun to do as a live play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- if you haven't watched the gameplay yet and you plan to then stop watching
- we won just at the last minute on the last thing we couldn't have anything else go wrong
- Steve we're on you yeah we're on you Steve
- who cares if a tiny Kingdom get it's just tin one tiny Kingdom what's the who cares if it burns
- I don't like to use my platform to share opinions of games
- you want to just stick a GoPro on my forehead I'll do whatever
- I did promise that I would do Arkham Horror eventually
- I don't review things Tom can do that he can say whatever he wants about whatever game he wants because it's his opinion
- I don't think you want to send your family we have not attended the Asylum as a family and we are not going to play Arkham horror probably as a family either
- I only do games I like at least somewhat I don't have to love the game I have to like it somewhat
- my mom always said don't talk to strangers
- people don't just get an accent though like you just got an accent well I mean maybe I'm normally hiding it
- you're really about it's about sort of betting do I have what I think I have
- Watch It Played has eaten my life and I love it I love that it has eaten my life this is what I want to be doing
- I don't want to make supporting our show be similar to your electric bill
- I hope it still exists not to beat this drum too loudly or too often but I mean it will come down to the fundraisers honestly
- my my what I want to do is I want the show to be something that I retain control of I get to play the games I want to play work with the Publishers I want to work with
- I would love to have a dedicated Studio I'm in my basement right now it's unfinished it's pretty good I'm pretty happy with where it is now but I I I could be happier
- Pep should get his own segment on watch it play Pep's Pep's play period make it happy Rodney you're holy back
- this is what I want to be doing I find the work people sometimes say oh you must have so much fun when I'm staring down the barrel of 15 hours of shooting an instructional video I'm not sitting there going wow this is fun but is intensely satisfying
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video r_A-67Xu2F0
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:00
video_pk 68313 · mention_pk 164692
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
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)
- Hi everyone, welcome to Watch It Played.
- And that's how you play Gravell.
- But until the next episode, thanks for watching.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Az4lIwU7XrQ
Meeple University Top List at 8:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64830 · mention_pk 158390
Click to watch at 8:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fun randomness
- Plays up to six players (second edition)
Cons
- Some text in the second edition that might not appeal to all players
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Colt Express
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Programming — Not quite programming, but similar in feel to Colt Express.
- simultaneous selection — It's simultaneous selection.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we are sharing our list what we would usually play and why coming up
- it is a very personal list because your dynamics are going to depend on your family's uh capacity to play games
- my parents played a lot back in the 80s less so since then
- looking for at least five players generally speaking
- project gaia first then no no there's no food chain magnet here your dad would be like what they there are no uh small text though or are they
- the crew is uh if the group plays up to five in a a very good i know your family is used to playing trick taking games i think
- colt express was a hit a few years ago um at our christmas place it's really fun plays up to six
- gravwell being a you know it's a it's a little bit more abs it's definitely much more abstract than cult express but it has the same um i mean it's not quite programming but it's simultaneous selection and enough things will happen that it's going to uh that you can't always plan for everything
- it's a good travel game as well indeed
- camel up is also a racing game but it's more so of betting than racing
- it's very clever racing game um because it takes the dice out of it
- it's the quacks of werdell burke
- this one's more on the thinking side of things of course if you uh it's it's it's one of the classic simple thinking games
- if you've never heard of any of these games you can still have fun with family monopoly it'll happen
- i only just realized that cludo was a pun on um on the old die rolling game ludo
- internet's always right so assume that exactly that is correct then
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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