Prepare Your Place of Power!
In a high tower, an Alchemist prepares potions, using vials filled with otherworldly fluids. In a sacred grove, a Druid grinds herbs for a mystical ritual. In the catacombs, a Necromancer summons a bone dragon... Welcome to the world of Res Arcana!
In it, Life, Death, Elan, Calm, and Gold are the essences that fuel the art of magic. Choose your mage, gather essences, craft unique artifacts, and use them to summon dragons, conquer places of power, and achieve victory!
A game typically lasts 4-6 rounds. In each round, players do these steps:
Collect essences: performs any Collect abilities, and may take essences from components.
Do actions, 1 per turn, clockwise from the First Player: place an artifact, claim a monument or Place of Power, discard a card for 1 Gold or any 2 other essences, use a power on a straightened component, or pass: exchange magic items and draw 1 card. Play continues until all players have passed.
Pass procedure: If you are first to pass, take the First Player token, swap your magic item for a different magic item, draw 1 card.
Check victory points (10+ VPs). If no one has won: straighten all turned components, and begin the next round.
- Tight engine building
- Elegant design
- Quick to play
- Teaching friendly
- Engine building
- Fantasy/Magic
- Abstract strategy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine building — Building engine with minimal cards
- hand management — Maximizing limited card options
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Foster the Meeple - a channel all about board games
- we have our team jeff team jamie patreons who are going to be voting on what the loser has to do
- i love res arcana res arcana is quickly becoming one of my favorite games
- adult where's waldo
- knocked our socks off
- i love it
- so much fun
- winter is coming
- board game city up in here
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- stats don't lie
- we love this game
- it's the perfect game to introduce people to worker placement
- the stats don't lie
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- We are here today to do part two, which is the $1,000 collection.
- This is a luxury hobby.
- Board Game Bliss affiliates. The link is going to be in the description.
- If you have a crisp $1,000 bill, you can go to your friendly local gaming store to spend that money on board games.
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Nemesis leave me alone
- Res Arcana don't hurt me now
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Two recommendations per category — a curveball for Jeff since he didn't know I was pulling out two classic picks.
- Draftasaurus and Catapult Kingdom are great for kids because eight-and-a-bit-year-olds can engage with simple rules and bright components.
- We want other people to love games, so you're going to get them games for Christmas whether they want them or not.
References (from this video)
- Tightly designed engine with interesting interactions
- Expansion content adds variety
- Can feel punishing if you draw poorly early on
- hand-management and artifact crafting
- fantasy realm with mystical essences
- puzzle-like drafting, deck- and resource-driven
- Wingspan
- Race for the Galaxy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck drafting / resource management — Draft cards to obtain essences and assemble powerful artifacts.
- race to 10 points — Endgame triggers create a tense finish.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- There's no turning back.
- Race for the Galaxy is a contender for the best.
- The dopamine rush of every chip you draw from that bag.
- Quacks of Quedlinburg is such a pure fun game.
- Feast for Odin is a big sandbox design.
- Teach You is by far my favorite card game in terms of teaching and playing with new people.
References (from this video)
- Dense, rich decisions with a strong endgame crescendo
- Expansions add meaningful variety
- Requires thoughtful planning; can be punishing to bad draws
- puzzle-like drafting and resource synergy
- fantasy realm of artifacts
- tight, tactical
- Race for the Galaxy
- Wingspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck drafting / resource management — Draft eight cards to construct a powerful engine and cast artifacts.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- There's no turning back.
- Race for the Galaxy is a contender for the best.
- The dopamine rush of every chip you draw from that bag.
- Quacks of Quedlinburg is such a pure fun game.
- Feast for Odin is a big sandbox design.
- Teach You is by far my favorite card game in terms of teaching and playing with new people.
References (from this video)
- amazing_gameplay
- excellent_engine_building
- tight_card_draw_adds_strategy
- plays_best_at_two
- limited_base_game_draws
- magic
- mage_gameplay
- monuments
- places_of_power
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- no guilt no shame no mercy
- it is pure magic pure gold
- build like a mortal win like a god
- tiny box biggest table presence experience
- this is a game i wouldn't want to play at higher than two
- jamie knows when she's one and i can see it in her face
- i have a very difficult time comparing games that are that drastically different
- castles of burgundy is heavier therefore i put castles of burgundy at one
- i know myself well enough by now you know i've got 34 years into this body i know i know what i'm into
- don't be a meanie or weenie it's okay to hate things
References (from this video)
- high variability from a random eight-card starting deck
- clever engine-building interactions
- iconography can be confusing and the reference aids are useful
- rulebook can require cross-checking
- arcane magic, mage duels and artifact collection
- fantasy mage-themed clash of artifacts
- mythic, token/resource driven
- Race for the Galaxy
- Terra Mystica Gaia Project
- Gaia Project
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck of eight cards — each game starts with a shuffled eight-card hand drawn from a 60+ card pool, yielding high variability
- engine-building — players build a personal engine by acquiring cards that generate resources and powers
- Resource management — managing a small resource economy to acquire more powerful cards
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the druids expansion is a must-buy
- it's not difficult to teach because what if essentially does it gives you more of the same but with a slight twist on top of it
- the biggest decision you're gonna have to make in this game
- it's a take that element and balance it out
- all in all it's a decent game, a alliance of convenience and towers, but at the end of the day everybody's got their own agenda
- Neon has kind of only just hit the market and most people don't have a clue what it is
References (from this video)
- compact, dense engine-building
- interesting card interactions
- presents meaningful choices each turn
- learning curve can be steep
- rules depth may overwhelm casual players
- arcane magic and relics
- fantasy realm with magical artifacts
- engine-building
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building — players develop engines by acquiring and using artifacts.
- hand-management — optimizing card play to maximize turn efficiency.
- resource-management — managing rune/magic resources for actions.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a fantastic engine building game
- Rules are important for checking mine
- cheater cheater pumpkin eater
- I am crushing you like a grape
- Town 66 going right above
- that Lord of the Rings confrontation pack
- this is the cube challenge
- Calico fits perfectly in the cube with room to spare
References (from this video)
- Highly interesting engine-building with tiny core deck
- Pearl mechanic adds meaningful decision points
- Strong depth for an eight-card engine game
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Requires careful planning and execution of combos
- spellcasting, essences, artifacts, and monuments
- Fantasy alchemy, artifact collection
- engine-building puzzle
- Race for the Galaxy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Eight-card deck — Your entire deck is eight cards; draft and play within a tight engine
- Engine-building / card synergy — Craft an efficient engine to optimize point generation via monuments and actions
- Resource management with essences and pearls — Discarding cards for essence; pearls provide optional power to convert resources
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- rules to the game are very simple
- the deck is eight cards
- what you get is what you play
- definitively better for me
- this is the definitive version
- Last Bastion was the game to continue on in my collection
- this is a fascinating auction game that combines push your luck and set collection
References (from this video)
- deep, puzzle-like design with elegant interactions
- great two-player balance; quick enough to finish a session
- varied artifact combos can feel opaque to new players
- ramp up in complexity may slow teaching
- artifact-driven engine building with ritual power
- arcane fantasy world of mages and artifacts
- fantasy, mythic puzzle
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building — collect artifacts and resources to power new actions and scoring opportunities
- Resource management — manage gems, elixirs, and power to optimize card plays
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- three kittens in a row they'll upgrade to three cats
- this is a great two-player game it is I'm very bad at it though
- to me Dice Throne is a lifestyle game
- Undaunted is amazing
- it's such a fun puzzle when you link cards and resources
- Star Wars rebellion is Star Wars in a box
References (from this video)
- tight engine
- great with expansions
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building — Tight engine-building with resource management and spell-crafting.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- we played a total of 30 different games this month
- this month flew by
- friggin love it it is an incredibly tight engine builder
- i friggin loved this game
- we love wingspan we need to get some of the expansions though
References (from this video)
- Incredible replayability
- Never gets stale
- Works with all expansions
- Engaging strategy
- Very difficult to win against certain players
- magic
- engine building
- strategic play
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Star Wars in a box
- We are talking about objectively the best games in the whole wide world
- The limit does not exist
- As mean as a game as you can play
- I love not knowing what's going to happen
- It's perfect
- Root is my type of game
- Most played game of all time
- This is phenomenal
- If you're in a horror movie is not everything dependent on luck
References (from this video)
- Mark enjoyed it
- Popular in the board game community
- Brittany didn't enjoy playing it
- Mark only played it once or twice
- magic
- fantasy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck building — magical card game
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I got this for Christmas I have no idea how to play this
- I remember liking it I I I don't remember not liking it
- if you like dachshunds or if you like which is like the hot dog dogs
- I liked the first two times I played I was like oh that's fun and then the more you play just kind of grates on you
- Brittany said that if you ever play this with me again I will burn down this house
- I will never get over it it's done
- you could play it like one to 100 players
- my brain is exhausted I feel like this is one of those games gets you the gears going your head
- I have no idea what this game is but how cool is that art
- this is just chess but it's like shot glasses
References (from this video)
- when everything aligns, it’s brilliant
- pacing can be engaging when synergy is present
- recent drafts felt incongruent; pace slowed
- can stall if the cards don’t synergize
- deck-building with rune-crafting and car d drafting
- fantasy magic and artifact economy
- fantasy engine-building with some luck
- Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
- Dune: Imperium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building — draft cards to form a hand that generates resources and effects
- Resource management — manage a mix of resources to power actions
- scoring via card synergies — points come from card interactions and combinations
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is an absolute masterpiece this game is
- this is like the best game ever made
- it's a real cool idea a really cool concept
- when you get the right cards together, it can be fantastic
- the more you play it the better it becomes
References (from this video)
- dense, elegant engine-building in a tiny deck
- high replayability with expansions
- steep learning curve for new players
- narrow deck may feel repetitive
- artifact engines and magical power
- fantasy, magecraft and artifact discovery
- compact engine-building with deck-like drafting
- Race for the Galaxy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building (eight-card deck) — players assemble a tiny deck to power engine actions
- Resource management — producing and spending resources to acquire powerful effects
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a big lavish production
- absolute classic
- this game is a dopamine hit
- it's comfort food
- this goes to Earth
- the end experience is greater than the sum of its parts
- it's a game that nails the gateway/accessible space
References (from this video)
- Relatively straightforward to teach for newcomers
- Iconography is readable with minimal setup
- Works well across a broad spectrum of players
- Some nuance in iconography may require a quick reference sheet
- Can feel slightly heavy for absolute beginners depending on familiarity with fantasy themes
- arcane craft and resource-driven competition
- a fantasy/magic setting where mages compete for artifacts and power
- mythic, spellbook-driven competition with mythic artifacts
- Clank!
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hand management — Players curate a hand of spell cards and artifacts and time activations to optimize efficacy.
- Resource management — Players track and spend runes/power to activate effects and gain control points.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- these are games that we have maybe taught to non-gamers that we found it was it's relatively easy
- it's not overly complicated and maybe I'm biased but I know this game so well that in most cases any iconography questions or nuance… I am able to answer
- the reason that we picked this one in particular is because it walks you through literally everything set up turn by turn
- this is a game that we've taught numerous times and has always been a hit
- you don't teach the game the game teaches you
- these are the absolute easiest games to teach
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- it's an experience
- it's incredibly mean in Cutthroat
- I would never stop playing it on BGA
- this is the best game one of the best games ever in my opinion
- it's crazy chaos I love this game
- it's not overly light racing game
- I love this game I wish so badly was on BGA
- it's an engine builder
References (from this video)
- Excellent engine-building and tableau-building with a compact card pool
- Strong thematic integration with a euro-style engine
- Very high replayability due to many synergies and combinations
- High component quality and clever storage tray
- Fast setup and quick rounds; 30-60 minutes
- Scales well; supports 2-4 players (best at 2-3 due to pacing)
- Potential symbolography can be a bit confusing at first
- Fantasy theme may not appeal to everyone
- Lower direct interaction than some duel-centric games; more about engine when playing 2 players
- Some players may benefit from drafting to avoid suboptimal starting cards
- Mage dueling and artifact-based resource conversion using a euro-style engine.
- A fantasy setting where mages compete in a magical world to gather artifacts and cast powerful effects.
- Thematic, flavor-forward tableau-driven engine-building with a competitive race to 10 points.
- Magic: The Gathering
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting / initial mage selection — Each round you select a major power at the start which shapes your engine, and sometimes draft to choose good cards.
- Dragon cards and combat — Dragons interact with other players and can impact hand resources, often providing points and strategic disruption.
- engine-building / tableau-building — Players assemble and optimize a personal engine by playing and triggering combinations of cards, items, and locations.
- Places of power and monuments — Expensive locations that grant powerful effects or points; monuments convert gold into points.
- resource management and conversion — Resources are gained at income phase and spent to purchase cards, locations, and monuments that convert into points.
- Symbol-based resources — Multiple resource types with a simplified symbol system to streamline play.
- Tapping / exhausting cards — Exhausting cards (tapping) to generate resources like gold and activate effects.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- i tend to i tend to really enjoy these engine building tableau building style
- this game does so much with so little
- the theme comes through in a euro-esque style game
- it's not a game where you have a lot of cards and loads of things to use
- you've got to do them in kind of an order
- the replayability i think it's really good
- i love the way that this magical theme comes through
- i am very happy with res arcana
References (from this video)
- Engaging engine-building and hand-management
- Variable VP on many components creates strategic depth
- Clear teaching video and approachable iconography
- Solid two-player experience and scalable with more players
- Rich symbol language rewards deep learning and mastery
- Can be complex for new players due to many symbols and interactions
- Dragon/attack mechanics can be confusing with reactions
- Setup and organization can feel lengthy for first-time players
- Mage duels and artifact collection, essence management
- Fantasy realm where four mages vie for control using essences to summon monsters and artifacts.
- mechanical with iconography-guided mechanics
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- endgame check and tie-breaker — Game ends when a player reaches 10 VP; ties are resolved by comparing total essences (gold counts as two).
- engine-building / tableau-building — Players assemble an engine tableau to gain essences and components that generate VP and powers.
- hand management — Players manage mage and artifact cards in hand, drawing to build a starting hand and evolving their tableau.
- iconography-driven rules — Iconography conveys costs, effects, and restrictions, with a heavy emphasis on symbol literacy to play efficiently.
- reactions and turning rules — Powers often require turning components to activate; some reactions can be used even when turned.
- Resource management — Essences serve as the universal resource used to pay costs and activate powers.
- round structure with phases — Each round has three phases: collect essences, action, and check victory.
- setup and deck management — Initial setup includes placing places of power, monuments, artifacts, mages, and items; decks are shuffled and some cards are removed/hidden at setup.
- stack replenishment and drafting — Acquiring monuments/top cards replenishes decks; players draft/reshuffle as needed when drawing new cards.
- variable victory points — Many components have VP values that can change based on live gameplay (e.g., life essences or other conditions).
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- a truly amazing game that i really enjoy when i play it in two players mode
- the game is actually a race to 10 victory points
- this token is worth one victory point
- have fun and play more board games
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Don't crush them when you are teaching a board game.
- I could teach you from memory.
- it's easy peasy lemon squeezies.
References (from this video)
- deep strategic layer for a medium-weight game
- clear online teaching aids on BGA
- engaging for groups that enjoy engine-building and combos
- can be complex for newcomers
- scoring can be opaque and require context for optimal play
- artifact-driven, magical warfare with a quiet, elegant aesthetic
- Arcane dueling with magical artifacts and spirits
- tableau-viz style with hand-management and resource engine
- Seasons
- Santorini
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building/hand-management — Players manage a hand of spells and artifacts to collect victory points and powers.
- open information/resource engine — Locations grant resources, and players must optimize timing and sequencing.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's so quick and snappy and you don't have to worry about like the tiles
- these are our bga recommendations and now we also have some board game app recommendations
- open internationally boooooom
- you have to put down in the comments what's your favorite superhero
- we are doing another giveaway for our 2000 subscriber milestone
References (from this video)
- strong thematic flavor and emergent strategy
- moments of synergy and 'aha' plays
- can be punishing for new players
- rule exploration can be dense
- arcane magic
- fantasy realm of mages
- tabletop fantasy
- Mage Knight
- Dune: Imperium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- auction/bidding — compete for powerful artifacts to gain points.
- deck-building — build a hand of spell cards to power your strategy.
- Resource management — use runes and artifacts to fuel activations and scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "I love hate drafting"
- "it's christmas when you unbox a game"
- "the sound of dice hitting the side of a wooden dice tray"
- "brew baby"
- "i'm literally miserable playing unicorn fever"
- "I love the first time you get to unbox a board game"
References (from this video)
- One of Jeff's top 3 favorite games of all time
- Excellent at 2 players with meaner gameplay
- Snappy and back-and-forth gameplay
- Fixed hand creates puzzle challenge
- No card draw outside initial hand
- Fighting over resources
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- These games are games that we enjoy playing at two
- Easy to learn hard to master
- Every game is different
- This game is awesome the artwork is incredible
- If you're a couple and you're looking to get a significant other into board games, that is one to check out
- It's a game that's either your thing or it's not
- The more and more I play unmatched more and more I appreciate how good that game is designed
- I love this game I do not like to play it at more than two players
- It might be a masterpiece of two-player game
- Very mean and I just think at two player it just becomes so much more tight
- This is one of the most chaotic games I've ever played
- I love dueling games like I love any game where you are just like Head to Head playing out cards
- Every time where I have the opportunity to play it I want to play it
- I think it's my favorite two-player game