Game Info
Year
2023
Players
1-4
Age
10+
Playtime
60 min
Complexity
2.7/5
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
Players explore a mysterious island as cartographers building personal maps while competing to propose the correct cartography and complete hidden objectives.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video Ox7GryFN9Zk
Getting Games Discussion at 3:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88529 · mention_pk 233532
Click to watch at 3:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Cartography/map-making with sponsor-mueled scoring; two layers of tile placement
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 a competitive two-player version of dwarf romantic
- I'm actually super excited about this one
- it just looks like absolutely my kind of game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video XaoecfpOL7g
Allies or Enemies Review at 0:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88171 · mention_pk 231845
Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fresh take on mapping/drafting with a meaningful dual-action turn structure
- Personal goal cards add replayability and strategic depth
- High-quality components and tactile, visually appealing design
- Solid solo mode that provides a satisfying puzzle experience
- Terrain powers create dynamic decision-making and pacing
Cons
- Initial rules can be unintuitive and take time to internalize
- Balance of personal goals is not perfectly perfect; some pairs feel stronger
- Two-player games can feel tighter and less interactive than higher-player counts
- Mental load can be high due to tracking multiple scoring tracks and hidden goals
Thematic elements
- Cartography under time pressure with hidden goals and deceptive scoring through personal parchment boards.
- Exploration on a deserted island as players chart and sketch maps with Misty terrain tiles and a parchment personal board.
- documentary-cartographic puzzle; emphasis on balancing accurate mapping with personal goal optimization.
Comparison games
- Redwood
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Claiming lands — Instead of mapping, players may place a marker to claim terrain and score for contiguous terrain areas on their parchment at game end.
- End conditions and scoring — Game ends when the island board is fully confirmed, a parchment board is filled, or no sketch cards remain; scoring compares parchment to the final island with penalties for blanks and deductions for unclaimed areas.
- Hidden Victory Points — Each player starts with personal goal cards chosen at the start; scoring emphasizes achieving specific configurations on the parchment board.
- Misty tile reveal and lock — If the placed tile is blank or a Misty type, a Misty tile of that type is added; if the same type already exists, it is flipped to a confirmed site and becomes locked.
- Movement — On a turn, a player moves their Explorer one space, then performs a second action (map or other action) on the same turn.
- Secret personal goals — Each player starts with personal goal cards chosen at the start; scoring emphasizes achieving specific configurations on the parchment board.
- solo mode — There is a dedicated solo variant that uses a modified deck and tile setup to provide interference and a deterministic high-score puzzle.
- Terrain-based powers — Each terrain type on the island grants a special power that affects movement, placement, or claiming decisions.
- Tile Placement — Players select a sketch card to add to their parchment board, effectively mapping adjacent island tiles.
- Tile sketching and placement — Players select a sketch card to add to their parchment board, effectively mapping adjacent island tiles.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's such a simple idea once you've got your head around it but it's so hard to explain because so much of it is like a little bit unintuitive
- the rule book does a good job, we didn't have any problems understanding it but it's still tough to get your brain around
- the solo mode works pretty well
- I do generally like that you're kind of balancing out that how do I match the main board
- it's not easy at two to get everything done but I still like it
- this does also have a solo mode and the solo mode works pretty well
- I could see it working well as a solo mode with that interference
- the terrains are thick and look beautiful, the components look great
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Q-TzxPHRSpA
Meeple University Top 5 List at 14:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88104 · mention_pk 231410
Click to watch at 14:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Innovative tile placement twist
- High replayability due to multiple scoring paths
Cons
- Complex to learn due to the dual-board interaction
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Sulen
- Sulon
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dual-board tile placement — Place domino-like tiles on a personal board and a common board; matching determines permanence.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a game of pure negotiation
- you hang these little bird pieces on elastic telephone wires
- like escape room puzzle in the Box type of thing
- the cards are great so cute the pieces are cute this cheese worth points
- the turns are really quick you are limited to do the next action depending on what action you take before that
- it's a Euro with high interaction
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qMiu0llCopU
Meeple University Top List at 32:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88084 · mention_pk 231214
Click to watch at 32:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Highly Positive
Pros
- Introduces innovative mechanics to tile placement.
- Adds meaningful interaction to the genre.
- Clever dual scoring system (personal and common board).
- Dynamic central board keeps gameplay fresh.
Cons
- Tiles can be fiddly.
- Can still feel solitary at times.
Thematic elements
- City building, tile placement
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Scoring involves claiming areas of the same terrain type on the main board.
- dynamic board — The common board state changes as tiles are placed and confirmed.
- Movement — Player movement on the main board dictates placement range.
- Objective Fulfillment — Players have private goals for their personal board and score based on matches between boards.
- Tile Placement — Players place tiles on their own map and a common map.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Goblin vaults this year is not only that game but it's all the way up in my top five
- the closest analog I haven't really seen anything exactly like it but the closest analog is Great Western Trail in terms of how the secondary scoring Market works
- for me this takes classic Great Western Trail and adds that Medium interaction I'm looking for
- I like Expeditions more than Scythe but I like Scythe
- I really like a good two-player abstract and this is a really good two-player abstract
- this has got this Euphoria bumping mechanics love it love it love it
- this really hits the mark there is a lot of medium Euro interaction in this game
- my number one game of 2023
- this is my favorite of Great Western Trail well Great Western Trail Argentina is close second but I decided okay I can't really you know I just want to put one great won Trail as one game one entry
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _XStn5k2XUo
Getting Games Discussion at 20:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87894 · mention_pk 230408
Click to watch at 20:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- neat cartography concept
- island mapping and lying about maps can be rewarding
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)
- two videos a week is the goal for 2024
- it's the curse of being self-employed
- check out my steam power mod
- virtual tabletop lets you just be stuck in a browser
- maps of Myera is a game about cartography where you are making a map of an island
- I fell in love with Medina second edition
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video NRJ9ecroPOU
Board Stupid Review at 0:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 38195 · mention_pk 114879
Click to watch at 0:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- High-quality, well-made components; double-cut, screen-printed meeples and laminated/coat-protected cards
- Iconography and production are clear and consistent, aiding play
- Language-independent design; no text on cards makes it accessible to a broad audience
- Innovative two-map mechanic that remains approachable and family-friendly
- Strong value for money given component quality and production standards
Cons
- Managing two maps can be tricky and may require a learning curve for some players
- May not scratch a deeper, heavier Eurogame itch for heavier gamers
- While solid, it lacks the extra complexity that would push it to a perfect score for some players
Thematic elements
- Exploration, cartography, and competing to accurately represent the island while pursuing personal objectives.
- An isolated mystical island called Mystera where players explore and map terrain to reveal secrets for patron requests.
- Competitive exploration with dual-map scoring and objective-driven play; light thematic through imagery rather than heavy lore.
Comparison games
- Carcassonne
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dual-map tension — Each player maintains a personal map and interacts with a shared main map; changes on the main map can unconfirm tiles on personal boards, creating tension and strategic decision-making.
- secret/objective-driven scoring — Players balance scoring from hidden goals with island-wide accuracy, influencing tile draws and placement choices.
- Terrain control with Flags — Flags are placed to claim terrain areas for points; terrain features and flags contribute to ongoing scoring and board control.
- Tile matching and confirmation — Placing a card on your map requires matching positions on the central board; unconfirmed tiles can be flipped or confirmed later, adding a predictive element.
- Tile Placement — Players move to a new space, draw a face-up card, and place it on their personal map; then they align main board tiles to confirm patterns.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- UND (undiscovered gem) for us at Spiel
- Four out of five for me
- Four point five out of five for me
- I think Maps of Mystera is for tile placement game lovers
- This is an excellent production especially for the price
- Language independent which is amazing
- Two maps tension is unusual but not heavy
- Production values are top-notch; components are very well made
- I own the game because I really like the production and artwork
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6