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The River

Game ID: GID0345231
Collection Status
Description

In The River, you and the other mayoral players each struggle to create the best pioneer settlement by developing land along a river bed in your town, collecting resources from the area, and constructing buildings. As you explore and build up the untouched frontier, your workers will settle down along the way, meaning that your other workers will shoulder more of the burden to do what you want to do, which includes making nicely organized landscapes to please the aestheticians in town.

Every decision counts in this fast and streamlined tile-placement game, and in the end the player with the most impressive settlement will win!

Year Published
2018
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment: pos 4 · mix 1 · neu 0 · neg 0
Mentions per page
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Showing 1–5 of 5
Video 1MZd0vGUgoA John kids games impressions vlog at 26:01 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 13379 · mention_pk 39237
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Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • solid entry-level gateway experience
  • accessible for new players
  • well-paced and straightforward
Cons
  • not a strong fit for heavier gamers
  • could be more exciting with better theming
Thematic elements
  • gateway gateway-style engine building
  • river-based development; building a river establishment
  • traditional gateway euro
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • entry-level worker placement — standard worker placement with a River tableau; draft and place tokens
  • limited resources and planning — board provides limited resource nodes; strategic timing matters
  • resource tracking and storage — count resources across areas and store in river storage facilities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • the art is stunning it's got just a beautiful cover on the front
  • adorable art this game is called Q Birds
  • this might be the best game that I played this year
  • the way all of the stuff bounces around is incredibly satisfying on a tactical and strategic level
  • it's a lightweight set collection hand management style game
  • this is easily the best of this trilogy
  • Spring Meadow does it really well
  • Underwater Cities might be the best game that I played this year
  • Winner's Circle is still really good
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WZ1LHqdN894 Adam's Board Game Whale analysis at 0:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12563 · mention_pk 36655
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
  • My Little Scythe
  • Relic Runners
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
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 xbibw-ZdCko Board Game Spotlight game_review at 10:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12052 · mention_pk 35287
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Fantastic little worker placement game
  • Gorgeous components
  • Very satisfying to play
  • Great for families
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Environmental development
  • River building
  • Mechanically-driven
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tableau building — Build areas as you go
  • worker placement — Family-targeted worker placement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Agricola is one of those games that you just got to have in your collection if you like euro style games
  • Porta is one of my favorite underrated games
  • Broom service I absolutely love food service one of the coolest mechanics in board games 100 percent recommend this game it is a hoot
  • Barron Park is my favorite polyomino Tetris in a board game game
  • Orleans is a top 5 game for me period just one of my favorite games to play ever
  • Power grid this was the game that got me into board gaming y'all
  • Seven wonders this is a modern-day classic
  • Betrayal at house on the hill every game is different
  • King of Tokyo one of those games that you have to have in your collection
  • If you like board games one or percent recommend this game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SGXvH0p9Tyw Actualol top_10_list at 5:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11895 · mention_pk 34883
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • newbie-friendly yet tense and strategic
  • beautiful production and accessible to new players
  • tight action economy with timing considerations
Cons
  • theme may feel less compelling for some players
  • timing and engine balance can be delicate
Thematic elements
  • industrial/resource development and growth
  • settlement-building along a river with mine resources
  • strategic and builder-forward
Comparison games
  • Ticket to Ride
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • engine building — develop a production chain to mine resources and construct buildings.
  • resource management and storage — manage storage of mined resources; mismanaging storage loses resources.
  • worker placement — place workers to take actions and advance development.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's intensely thematic as you spend the game drawing on your map trying to eliminate possible areas and deduce where it could be
  • Chronicles of Crime is a crime solving game in the vein of Sherlock Holmes consulting detective that uses an app to deliver its clues and story
  • the game lets you step into the crime scenes yourself by using virtual reality glasses with the phone app
  • Shadows Amsterdam feels like a wonderful combination of Code Names and Mysterium turned up to eleven by introducing the frantic stress of a real-time game
  • Detective a modern crime game is a crime solving cooperative game from Portal Games
  • the cases are rich and complex and you will feel like real detectives as you take notes, pour over all the information and argue with your friends about suspects and leads
  • Railroad Inc hits that perfect spot for a roll and write game of being easy to jump into
  • the river is the latest game from Days of Wonder who are famous for beautiful approachable games for newbies like Ticket to Ride
  • timing is everything you desperately want to build early as bonuses dwindle
  • Western Legends the freedom of sandbox means they can be loose and there's some expectation to balance the game if you don't want someone to achieve a runaway outlaw strategy you need to stop them but that's keeping with the theme
  • it's the closest boardgames will come to the video game Red Dead Redemption
  • Pictomania is fast fun and chaotic
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video thwNh_yocMI Cardboard Herald general_discussion at 5:55 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10807 · mention_pk 31913
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Host expresses enjoyment and digs the game concept
  • Days of Wonder reputation for strong production values
Cons
  • Specific gameplay mechanics are not discussed in the transcript
Thematic elements
  • cultural storytelling around waterways
  • River-themed thematic experience
  • thematic review and commentary format
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • unknown — Gameplay mechanics not detailed in transcript.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • 2000ad is one hell of a sandbox to play in; it's super freaking and that too-cool-for-school underground comix nihilistic sort of way.
  • it sounds kind of Awesome
  • there's been a pre announcement leak that Osprey games it's making a judge dredd or 2000ad themed wildlands game
  • go ninja go get out of here whatever dude
  • this is a project with 1.5 million dollars to make some board games could have been handled much better
  • these narrative puzzle adventure thingies
  • it's continuing the narrative that was found within the first one
  • the river the new game by Days of Wonder
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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