Winter Kingdom features seven, double-sided hexagonal map tiles that are randomly arranged into the playing area. After that, three scoring conditions, one economy card (showing how players earn money), and one twist card are dealt, giving the unique features of the game. Each player is dealt five ability cards and one terrain card.
On your turn, you must place three houses in the terrain depicted on your terrain card. If possible, you must place the houses next to previously placed houses. (If not possible, they may be placed anywhere that matches the terrain on the card.) You also start the game with a limited number of forts, which can replace any house and which count as two pieces.
After placing houses, you may use your gold to make one purchase, either paying the cost to put one ability card into play or paying an additional cost on a previously placed ability to upgrade it. Once purchased, the ability may be used once per turn for the rest of the game. You start the game with a little gold to buy abilities and can earn more gold based on the economy card in play for that game.
The game ends once one player is out of both houses and forts. Players score based on the criteria of the scoring cards for that game; in addition, whoever has the most houses next to each castle scores 3 additional points. The player with the most points wins.
- familiar Kingdom Builder-style core with a winter twist
- potential for additional depth via coins
- kingdom-building with winter setting
- winter kingdom theme
- poly-simulated strategy
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- coins and powers — coins unlock cards and powers
- kingdom-building with hex terrains — draw a card to determine where to build; place houses on terrain
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I love rondelle's as a mechanism in general
- wandering around an island in a hot-air balloon and the whims of the wind
- endless variability or replayability
References (from this video)
- Adds rich variety to the Kingdom Builder concept
- High replayability and strong fits for fans of the series
- Backers and non-backers may have mixed opinions on availability
- kingdom-building with seasonal variation and added diversity
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- kingdom-building / tile placement — placing settlements and managing the board similar to Kingdom Builder
- varied player powers / new mechanics — injected variety akin to expansions within a box
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- there are tons of different paths to victory
- the narrative that you build is just so amazing with the right group of people
- it's an affordable game to buy with the cost and also i think it has just a really good chance of landing with people because of how addictive i find this game play
References (from this video)
- tight integration of abilities and pathway choices
- adds new mechanics while preserving core feel
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- engine-building with variable abilities — updated version of Kingdom Builder with tunnels and expanded decisions
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Splender duel is a super super solid two player game
- it's so good
- I love this game and I can't wait to play it with you guys at some higher player accounts more often
- this is one of the best negotiation games that I've ever played
- it's a great deck building race game
References (from this video)
- More complex and rewarding for skilled players.
- More content in a single box, akin to multiple expansions.
- Has more identity than previous iterations.
- Originally cannibalized for Kingdom Builder promos and expansions.
- Initially not different enough from Kingdom Builder.
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players select actions, with a focus on paying for abilities.
- Card-based abilities — Abilities are drawn from a deck, not tied to the board.
- Resource Management — Players manage money to pay for abilities.
- variable board setup — Explores different numbers of terrains on the board.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- My answer, you know, hasn't changed, but the the way I put it has.
- mostly my board game playing is in fact my games play testing them.
- The most important thing is that we're having fun playing the game.
- It's a project that will be easy to work on because you've got that whole framework there.
- The secret to Dominion. So, you have a game I had a a classic game uh called Evolution from the 90s.
- The secret to Dominion... is that instead of having a tableau, we've taken everything about your position and shuffled it away into this deck and you're only dealing with a small portion of it at once in your hand.
- And so Domian does that trick and that that is the secret now, you know.
- my biggest advice was was try to get games published. See what happens.
References (from this video)
- Area control
- Wintry setting
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — Players stake claims and control squares on the board by placing castles.
- Hexagonal Board — Uses hex tiles instead of rectangular boards for building out the system.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- And today we have a top 10 list for you.
- So we're we were thinking, what are some board games that give us like winter vibes?
- Ladies first.
- This is Winter Kingdom. This is kind of a winter version of Kingdom Builder um from Queen Games and and Donald X Yakarino.
- This is Dead of Winter. This is a very cool game both in terms of temperature and in its mechanisms.
- So, the number one winter vibes style game is a game called Riverside.
- we want to know what you have to say because when Wy and I were creating this list, we came up with so many games that were like that would be awesome to put on the list, but we haven't played it.
- Put those in the comments below because we want to hear from you.
References (from this video)
- expands on Kingdom Builder with new rules and pacing
- adds fresh mechanics like tunnels and different income methods
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just such a satisfying game for me to play
- the scoring is so low it makes every point matter so much
- this is a voting game that you are going after you're interested in manipulating tokens on the board
- Mission Deep Sea is the Pinnacle version of the crew
- Ghost Stories is fantastic cooperative game
- Cascadia is such a great game
- Kingdom Builder ... it goes up to five to six players
- KeyForge unlike anything else I've played out there
References (from this video)
- new version that expands Kingdom Builder ideas
- offers a different pacing and mechanics while retaining core identity
- as of discussion, still early impressions; may vary with play group
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just such a satisfying game for me to play
- the scoring is so low it makes every point matter so much
- this is a voting game that you are going after you're interested in manipulating tokens on the board
- Mission Deep Sea is the Pinnacle version of the crew
- Ghost Stories is fantastic cooperative game
- Cascadia is such a great game
- Kingdom Builder ... it goes up to five to six players
- KeyForge unlike anything else I've played out there