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)
- great longevity; expansions add variety
- price
- kingdom builder with expansions
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I would absolutely start a collection with these and be super pumped about this collection
- no shipping costs or taxes or anything included
- I live off the grid with no electricity and no running water
- let us know in the comments how you would restart your collection with a hundred dollars
- it's like as if i was able to get kingdom builder with expansions
References (from this video)
- more flexible, expansive design over Kingdom Builder
- potential for clever plays and strategic depth
- the rule book is challenging
- can lead to information overload and longer learning curve
- increased flexibility and options compared to Kingdom Builder
- winter-themed kingdom building on a shared map
- strategic planning with a large decision space
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — placement of settlements with varied abilities and goals
- area control / placement choices — placement of settlements with varied abilities and goals
- kingdom-building with a larger map — more spaces and a larger decision space than the original
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's not by no means a 10 out of 10 game
- value in the box is incredible
- the cards are the best thing about this game
- this is the number one game of the year for me
References (from this video)
- very open and less restrictive than Kingdom Builder
- high replayability via many Chronicles and combos
- strong interaction and poke-and-pivot play with opponents
- very wide decision space can cause analysis paralysis
- rule book can be intimidating and confusing at first
- kingdom-building with modular tiles and variable powers
- updated take on Kingdom Builder with a larger map and more open expansion
- engine-building with heavy interaction and tactical decisions
- Kingdom Builder
- Patchwork
- Tokaido
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- adjacency and placement rules — placement is restricted by adjacency to certain land types; tunnels allow long-distance moves
- bonus abilities and engine-building — draw and use ability cards; coins spent to acquire or upgrade abilities; build an engine
- Compound Scoring — three scoring conditions are set at the start; choices drive your priorities and blocking decisions
- Engine Building — draw and use ability cards; coins spent to acquire or upgrade abilities; build an engine
- Scoring Conditions — three scoring conditions are set at the start; choices drive your priorities and blocking decisions
- tile/settlement placement — place three settlements per turn; larger map with seven big hexagonal spaces and tunnels
- Turn order and economy — start with a hand of abilities, manage coins to upgrade or play abilities; dynamic economy
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the game is very interactive you're getting in people's way
- it's not a strategy game
- a mind-bending puzzle that I know the first couple games I played has caused a decent amount of analysis paralysis
- the decision space is so wide because there are so many little factors that play in with all the spaces you can go to
- open world, bigger map, seven large hex tiles, computational depth
- the bullying aspect in the auction with whoever is the most money can really throw their weight around
- Guards of Atlantis 2 ... it's a niche game
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)
- complexity ramps up from Kingdom Builder in a satisfying way
- tunnels reduce dead ends and increase options
- strong puzzle-like placement and strategic planning
- higher complexity may weigh on some players
- rulebook setup could be clearer
- potential for longer learning curve
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-building with hand management — Players hold a hand of cards that grant different abilities and influence actions.
- Tile Placement — Place and upgrade tiles to build a more complex kingdom with evolving interactions.
- tile placement / upgrading — Place and upgrade tiles to build a more complex kingdom with evolving interactions.
- tunnels as interaction / out — Tunnels provide escape routes and agency, reducing dead ends and downtime.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just based on the actual you know how we felt about the play session with these games this specific time at the cabin
- we're not ranking these on like this isn't like all-time review scores kind of thing
- it's a quick 10 minutes of course before we go
- the tunnels are really cool
- mind management is brilliant
- smartphone inc ... it's a puzzle
References (from this video)
- a new way to experience a classic
- strong interest and curiosity; potential to be enjoyable
- kingdom-building with a fresh take on a classic
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- i love the polyomino type pieces that they have on there
- it's a really really good polyamino game
- i am obviously a huge fan of narrative and campaign style games
- gloomhaven's one of my favorite games if not my favorite game
References (from this video)
- adds exciting new abilities and interaction options on the board
- expansion context for Kingdom Builder
- too much going on for that type of game
- second session felt overwhelming compared to the first
- prefers the tighter, quicker Kingdom Builder experience
- Kingdom Builder-inspired expansion with new abilities and interactions on the board
- Kingdom Builder
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- expansion to a base game — expands Kingdom Builder with new abilities and interaction options on the board
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- here's a game that's taking a game I love Kingdom Builder and expanding on it adding a bunch of you know exciting new abilities and ways to interact with the board
- I would just much rather sit down and play Kingdom Builder
- it's not so much that it's a bad game; it's just that the sum of its parts no longer resonates with me
- visually the theme everything like I was so captured by this game
- the decisions become more obvious the longer the game goes on
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
References (from this video)
- high variability due to asymmetry and twist cards
- engaging coins-based economy
- replayability with different strategies
- rules complexity can be daunting
- board setup may be time-consuming
- kingdom building and resource management
- fantasy winter kingdom
- Eurogame
- Kingdom Builder (predecessor mechanisms)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Asymmetric abilities — each player has unique power tweaks.
- coin-based economy — coins are used to enable actions and timing.
- Dice Placement — dice determine actions and resource generation.
- Twist cards — cards alter rules and add strategic twists.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- "Crystal mosaic is the newest expansion for Azul"
- "double-sided player boards each offering new challenges in new strategic opportunities"
- "a two-player game simulating the 45-year dance of intrigue prestige and occasional flares of warfare known as the cold war"
- "this sequel brings familiar mechanisms introduced in Kingdom builder but offers a large amount of variability"
- "the game makes the biggest blip on our radar this month is Museum"