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Game Info
Year
2023
Players
2
Age
10+
Playtime
30 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
Each player controls a colony of ants in Marabunta. On a turn, the active player rolls the six dice, then splits them into two groups. The opponent chooses and uses the dice in one of the groups, then the active player uses the remaining dice.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 10
This page: 10
Sentiment:
pos 7 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–10 of 10
Video QBMuUbWR4I0
Watch It Played News at 5:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 88274 · mention_pk 232414
Click to watch at 5:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Designer Kenzia drew me in.
- Has the 'I split you choose' mechanism which is underrated.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- colony of ants
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice Rolling — The active player rolls six dice then splits them into two groups.
- Player Choice — The opponent chooses and uses the dice in one of the groups, and then the active player uses the remaining dice.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Arelo the board game brings the same colorful world and compelling characters from the video game to life on the tabletop.
- It's not about being faster than the vampire is it it's about being faster than the person next to you.
- The description to me is tantalizing but also admittedly doesn't tell us too much about how to play this political card game but there's something about this one that's really got me interested.
- I split you choose mechanism it's criminally underrated.
- This is probably one of my top five gaming experiences of all time and I will 1,000% be getting this when it's out we just have to wait until 20125.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qSTyDc5tSSk
Getting Games Games Radar Vlog sentiment: positive
video_pk 88151 · mention_pk 231736
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- innovative two-player puzzle with dice and color interaction
- compact playtime of 30-45 minutes
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- tiny colony warfare
- ant battlegrounds
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice-driven selection — ice spit dice and color/area interaction for two-player play
- Two-Player Only — strict two-player design
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 kWkwzGp_Ca8
Watch It Played Discussion at 8:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87400 · mention_pk 228313
Click to watch at 8:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great production
- compact two-player package
- low price
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- war/territory control
- two-player battlegrounds on a shared central board
- two-player dice-driven competition
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area_majority — players vie for majorities across battlegrounds
- roll-and-write — two-player roll-and-write on a shared board
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I am very good friends with people who with whom I disagree greatly
- it's not a reflection on you as a person or as even them as a person
- Gloom Haven is Great Value
- Skull King will be the one I'll probably go for
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ebUG75vaxtQ
Chairman of the Board Top List at 10:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87418 · mention_pk 228396
Click to watch at 10:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive
Pros
- Challenging decisions
- Strategic manipulation of opponent's options
- Clever gameplay
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Uses dice rolls to tick off items on an area control board.
- Dice Rolling — Players roll clusters of dice.
- Icy Split (I & II) — Dice are divided, and opponents choose one cluster.
- Resource Management — Collecting goods and increasing yield from regions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is another definitely a a forgotten gem in my opinion
- this is definitely unlike any other kitti game that I've played
- quite a frustrating game um but the hand management is extremely clever um and a very tense game as well
- the cool thing about this game is the twist at the end where if you are the player who spent the most money you are automatically disqualified from winning
- this one seems to be a bit more polarizing but it's a huge hit for me personally
- brilliantly refined very sophisticated and streamlined gameplay um one of the best T placement games out there
- definitely a deeper game than it first meets the eye and it's one of the best auction games ever made
- wonderful game one of the purest games I have in my collection and one of my favorites full stop an absolute work of art
- well Riders was fine Dragon Riders so Dragon master was decent royal visit if you like the tug-of war system you might like this one didn't quite work for me same go to Blue Moon Legends very interesting World designed game but one that didn't quite suit my game style
- definitely one of the highest regarded kitu games and for good reason it's my second favorite kitu game
- this one is another auction Style game where you have fixed bids so you cannot just bid what you want you have four tokens at any time and all you're doing is you are revealing these tokens or these tiles out in this kind of push your luck mechanism
- lots of layers lots of wrinkles um definitely a deeper game than it first meets the eye
- it's one of the best auction games ever made I think it might be my favorite
- this is one of his root building style games as you have a a rack full of tiles you're using them to create huge chains of your particular color and trying to connect these different kind of cities together
- gaml could not be more simple just simply place a TI or think two tiles or more than that at times onto the board and um score accordingly
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TutG02Uzu5k
All You Can Board Discussion at 6:47 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85719 · mention_pk 220325
Click to watch at 6:47 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Highly interactive for a two-player game
- Unique split-choose mechanic creates tension
- Strong interaction on a compact map
Cons
- Only two players; limited player count variety; potential for analysis paralysis
Thematic elements
- area majority and resource manipulation
- Ants vs cupcakes with a grid-like map
- thematic but abstract strategy
Comparison games
- Lost Cities
- Kenia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- asymmetric two-player play — Each player has unique abilities; board actions shape both players' options.
- I Cut, You Choose — Roll five dice and split into two piles; opponent picks a pile and activates corresponding actions.
- I split you choose — Roll five dice and split into two piles; opponent picks a pile and activates corresponding actions.
- Tile Placement — Tiles and dice interactions determine area scoring and bonuses.
- Tile/die synergy and scoring — Tiles and dice interactions determine area scoring and bonuses.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I want to dig in on this game.
- It's a dig in for me as well.
- This is the best two-player only game I've played since Great Plains.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jZrlf2apmBw
The Dice Tower Discussion at 2:03 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 80634 · mention_pk 196845
Click to watch at 2:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Clever design
Cons
- Pretty brutal
- Pretty difficult
- Splitting always feels so tight
- Easy to feel like you're making the wrong decisions
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — It's a head-to-head area control game.
- I split you choose — I split you choose game
- Roll and Write — This is a roll and write I split you choose game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- a silly little game, way overproduced, but fun like hot potato style game.
- unfortunately a two-player back and forth just a little too much going on in a small game.
- So, that's pretty much it.
- This says contemporary on it.
- Tom, what would be your advice to aspiring game designers?
- most of the advice given to me over the years has been along the lines of don't do it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jZrlf2apmBw
The Dice Tower Discussion at 5:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80634 · mention_pk 196851
Click to watch at 5:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Very interactive
- Very mean (in a good way for this type of game)
Cons
- Interaction level may not be for everyone
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — It has heavy elements of area control in there as well.
- I split you choose — two-player only I split, you choose roll and write game
- Roll and Write — two-player only I split, you choose roll and write game
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- a silly little game, way overproduced, but fun like hot potato style game.
- unfortunately a two-player back and forth just a little too much going on in a small game.
- So, that's pretty much it.
- This says contemporary on it.
- Tom, what would be your advice to aspiring game designers?
- most of the advice given to me over the years has been along the lines of don't do it.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ouEsfRQJoSg
Review at 0:11 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 72386 · mention_pk 170643
Click to watch at 0:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Incredibly unique as a roll and write
- Very interactive
- Clever and smart design
- Stellar production
- Fulfills a unique niche for two-player interactive roll and writes
Cons
- Very tight and unforgiving
- Can feel like you're messing up as the splitter or chooser
- Lopsided games are obvious and can be a bummer
- The tightness can be a turn-off for some players
Thematic elements
- Deadly insect wars
Comparison games
- Make a Bus Route
- Through the Desert
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players aim to have the majority strength in colored regions by writing higher numerical values to score points shown on leaves.
- Dice Rolling — Six dice are rolled each round, corresponding to different colored areas, and can have numbers or special symbols (banners, zeros).
- I split, you choose — Dice are rolled and split into two piles. The second player chooses one pile, and the first player takes the remainder. This mechanic is central to the game's interactive nature.
- Roll and Write — Players roll dice and write numbers onto their player boards corresponding to different areas and actions.
- Route Building — Implied through the expansion and connection of numbers on the board, similar to other Reiner Knizia games like Through the Desert.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a very mean little roll and write game.
- I feel far more stressed as the splitter than even than the other player.
- It's very clever, it's very well-made. I just don't like how tight it is.
- I hope that if nothing else this review, whether you're focusing on the numbers or not, 6.5 versus 7.5, you know, one being a recommend, one not quite being a recommend. I hope that if nothing else you're getting a sense for what type of gamer you are and whether this would work for you.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZHHvJamXnZw
All You Can Board Top List at 17:09
video_pk 62476 · mention_pk 155066
Click to watch at 17:09 · 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)
- Small box games can sometimes get a bad rap because there's so many board games that release every year.
- Flip Tunes is a really small box clearly.
- it's such an easy game to teach
- Scout is one of the best card games I've played in the last little bit.
- Cascadia Rolling Rivers is a really satisfying game to manage the habitat cards.
- Take Time is a cooperative game that boils down to two sets of cards, 1 to 12.
- The Crew Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking game for three to five players.
- Stellar is a really great smallbox game that left my collection.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qsqVSjE3N-8
Chairman of the Board Discussion at 1:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 447 · mention_pk 1326
Click to watch at 1:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight two-player experience
- nice hybrid of ice split you choose and area control
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — two-player tension with regional control to score points
- tile drafting — drafting elements to influence control and scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is spectacular so spectacular
- it's a very simple um tile drafting game where you are placing these different kind of nautical symbols rows and columns trying to achieve these different goals or objectives that are on the border of your little grid
- the tile drafting is kind of inconsequential it's all about how you place them
- one of the best little dexterity games out there
- Kodama Forest this is such a cool polyomino Style game
- this is such a cool party game
- Wits and Wages... definitely one of the best party games out there full stop
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–10 of 10