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In The Island of El Dorado, each player is the leader of a civilization seeking to explore the island to control the four ancient shrines. You’ll discover resources, bodies of water, and the shrines themselves in a landscape which is different every single time you play. Build farmhouses and create villagers to gather resources and grow your economy. Occupy strategic locations on the map using forts to defend against the other explorers who seek to control the island before you do. Legend has it the most powerful shrine is hidden inside a cave, but be wary as you enter. The cave is the most dangerous part of the island.
Civilizations will rise and fall as each player explores, gathers, and fights to control the four shrines of El Dorado. The first player to control all four shrines wins the game. They will rule over the island forever and become richer than a king.
—description from the publisher
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
References (from this video)
- Solid engine-building with accessible rules
- Can become repetitive if overplayed
- Expedition/conquest
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck building — Players build a deck of movement and tool cards to traverse the jungle and reach goals.
- deck-building — Players build a deck of movement and tool cards to traverse the jungle and reach goals.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's not personal, it's business, okay?
- We need to remedy that and quickly.
- I am going to be cutthroat with some of these games.
- I feel better prepared already for Spiel.
- This shelf is absolutely beautiful, but we have to make space.
References (from this video)
- cohesive blend of deck-building with exploration mechanics
- thematic flavor of jungle exploration and quest for El Dorado
- satisfying deck-building decisions that steer progress
- may feel derivative adjacent to other deck-builders like Dominion
- some players may find pacing slower on certain playthroughs
- the thematic weight could be lighter for some players
- Adventure, exploration, travel via deck-driven decisions
- Jungle expedition to reach the legendary El Dorado
- competitive exploration with light storytelling cues
- Dominion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck building — build and cycle a personal deck to enable movement and actions on the expedition track
- deck-building — build and cycle a personal deck to enable movement and actions on the expedition track
- Network/route building — progress along a modular map/track toward a destination, choosing routes and cards
- Push Your Luck — uncertainty in draws affects progress toward the city of gold
- push-your-luck/variable risk — uncertainty in draws affects progress toward the city of gold
- resource/hand management — manage card hand to optimize travel or actions, balancing risk and reward
- set/route exploration — progress along a modular map/track toward a destination, choosing routes and cards
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- build the deck that will please you to find the city of gold
- it seems to me a fine game has been laid upon your table
- oh how the mechanis blend shines
- you better get to the Finish Line