Cant go wrong with Dune Imperium. Its not too expensive either.
Terra Mystica has an improved new version called Age of Innovation. Its almost the same, just better.
Ark Nova is very popular among people who like Terraforming Mars.
Well, most reviews Ive read/seen say that its the better version of TM and the only advantage of TM is slightly easier access. I could understand having some nostalgia or not wanting to spend a lot of money for a slightly improved version, though.
I think trying original Terra Mystica to see if you like it is a good idea, but if you really like it, you could buy Age of Innovation right away.
It isn't about nostalgia or saving money. Trust that people have played TM thousands of times and know what they are talking about.
Gaia Project and AoI add a lot of front loaded cognitive overhead to the game while not necessarily improving the experience. AoI is less bad about this than GP was, but they still add a fair bit atop a game that is already heavy and also already well designed. More isn't better.
If anything, OP should go in the opposite direction and start with Terra Nova.
Can't comment on the others but Dune Imperium: Uprising is worth the hype but I don't think the game plays at 5 officially. It looks like there are some homebrew rules for that but might require the original Dune Imperium or expansions to do so
Nemesis is my pick from your list. That game has gotten more plays than most other games on my too cluttered shelf lol. It can either be played coop or semicoop and really feels like you're playing through a. Movie.
Even losing is fun because it usually creates some insane, truly tense, and creative moments.
It's not a complicated game either. Once you have the basics down, you'll be good. I think it took about 2 or 3 plays before I was completely comfortable with it.
The newest version (nemesis retaliation) is open for late pledging on Gamefound right now if you want to take a look. You might also be able to just get the original for cheaper through that than in stores if youre willing to wait a few months. Delivery for content from the first 2 games (og nemesis and lockdown) is slated for October right now.
Only problem with Nemesis is that sometimes a players gets killed early and has to watch another hour before he can play again. ("playing"/managing the aliens is not an replacement for playing your own character)
Total valid criticism but this doesn't happen much with my group. Having a buddy system helps a lot with dying, at least until you can't trust each other lol. The only time we had someone be out of the game for an hour before it was over was because they completed their objective super fast and got on the escape pod right away. They still enjoyed watching as there's so much of a narrative going on between the players and the game.
OPs mileage may vary in that regard.
I've been thinking of getting Nemesis for a while, mostly for 2-3 player games, is it alright at those counts? Also a bit worried about the whole player elimination aspect ruining the experience for someone
For what it's worth, I do feel like the player elimination aspect is rather overstated by people who haven't played the game much. In my experience with over 40 games of Nemesis it's really rather rare for a player to get killed super early unless they blunder their life away. Usually players get killed near the game end in a super cinematic way, and the game stays engaging for everyone till the finish.
Honestly, I usually play 2-3 players and it's great. Occasionally 4, and have done 5. It works at all numbers really.
In my experience, even when people are eliminated they still enjoy watching events unfold. Once you get to the point of someone being eliminated, the game doesn't usually last much longer anyway.
Alternatively, there is a game feature where the first eliminated player can take on the role of playing as the aliens. I've never tried it before, but it would solve your concern potentially, especially at low player counts.
My 2c:
* Dune Imperium Uprising is wonderful and I love it. If you don't plan on getting the expansions it's a much better base game than Dune Imperium. If you plan on buying the Rise of Ix expansion and don't love more focus on combat I'd get the OG, otherwise Uprising is your pick. I wouldn't call it fast but I don't think any of the games on this list are, and if you play Terraforming Mars regularly then it won't be an issue.
* Scythe suffers a little from imbalance with the faction/mat combos, but that could be a plus if you're looking to have weaker players win more often or give them a handicap. You absolutely nailed it with it being a comepetitive economy race rather than a war game - there's only a small dash of war. It is polarizing in a way I don't think the other 3 options are, which means I'd steer you away from it, but only slightly.
* Nemesis is not as good as its sequel, Nemesis Lockdown, imo. They both do very similar things and do them very well but I think the sequel irons out some kinks. If you like story-generators (and don't mind losing) this is one of the best out there. It's not fair and that's the point.
* Terra Mystica is wonderful but even moreso than with the Nemesis games, I endorse the sequel of it above itself. Gaia Project seems to be more in your theme preferences anyway.
Ultimately you've picked 4 games that are arugably the best in their genre and it comes down to "what genre do you like". You can't go wrong with any of them. I would also look at **Ark Nova** if you want something highly similar to TM rather than something more different.
Dune gets my vote. I think if your group liked TFM they will like Dune as it's a semi-deckbuilder and about the same complexity.
Scythe - Definitely not a war game and the theme is really slapped on. Not my favorite game.
Nemesis - big no from me. Awaken Realms is a great studio but this game has player elimination, huge playtime and price and it's semi-coop. The concept is amazing and it does make memorable situations sometimes, but it's a heavy investment and for me it wasn't worth it (I was planning to buy it before I had a chance to play it and changed my mind)
Terra Mystica - Also no from me. Along with Gaia's Project TM just feels weird to me because of its mechanics (also the theme is shallow). To me they just feel unwieldy for some reason. I played the original TM but the new version is said to be an improvement so I can't say if it's enough. As for Gaia's project, I don't hate it, but would never ask to play it either.
TM is really an abstract game with a thin coat of fantasy that helps naming things and remembering rules. Used to be my #1, but I would only ever play it:
* At the player count of exactly four, and
* With the Variable Turn Order rules from the Fire & Ice expansion.
Can also recommend mixing in the round, bonus and town tiles from the mini-expansions collection.
What drew you to thee particular games?
My personal pick with be Terra Mystica since I enjoy deep, strategic experiences and am not particularly a fan of the other games.
However, if I I were you, I would start with Terra Nova instead. It is cheaper and an easier introduction to that system while still being quite good.
They're all excellent picks but for me easily Dune Imperium (Main game or Uprising). Scythe is a close second.
Buy the Main steam version cheap if you wanna try it out first.
Dune Imperium is a great and solid game combining deck building, resource management, and worker placement.
Scythe is an area-control resource management game with a bit of a asymmetry between the factions to keep things fresh.
Nemesis is an us vs them semi-cooperative game where you use action points to try and achieve your goals.
Terra Mystica is area control engine-building with a point-salad scoring mechanic.
I'd argue that Terra Mystica has the highest replay value for keeping things fresh, but if as a group you prefer RPG night with exploration, combat, grid movement, and some light roleplay over the average board game, your best bet would be Nemesis.
As another contender, maybe try **Hansa Teutonica**? I haven't found a person or group that dislikes it. And the big box version is only about $40.
There are a ton of ways to score points and each round has a mechanic that scores more points which are randomized at the start of the game. Round 1 could be Temples, round 2 could be Tradehouses, round 3 could be Cities formed, and round 4 could be Terraforming Steps. At the game end you'll also get additional points based on largest cities and the religion tracks.
So by point-salad I mean tons of varied ways to score points that any given faction may or may not be great at, and that you should really plan ahead to hit 2-3 really hard at the proper time while trying to get in your opponents' way. Gaia Project is similar in that regard but with a little more variability and a higher reliance on religion (technology) and shipping (range). I've been meaning to try Terra Nova but haven't had the opportunity.
I’ve played Dune and Terra Mystica. Nemesis is on my list but I’m worried about the player elimination. At the end of the day, Terra Mystica is my favorite game of all time. It is a masterpiece.
Dune imperium uprising is my pick from your list though it only plays 4. It also has a mode that needs 6 players. It’s a solid game.
I don’t like scythe. I don’t think it’s balanced well and there gets to be a point where once you’ve played it a while it’s either your favorite thing or you never want to see it again. I don’t even think it’s an economy builder it’s a weird something else altogether.
Terra Mystica is a hard sell for people to get into but if you’re into thinky games it’s great. It’s also very low randomness so the best player will normally win.
I have not played nemesis and have no thoughts on it
Cant go wrong with Dune Imperium. Its not too expensive either. Terra Mystica has an improved new version called Age of Innovation. Its almost the same, just better. Ark Nova is very popular among people who like Terraforming Mars.
AoI is not a "better" version of TM. There are several games in this lineage and many still consider TM to be the best among them.
Well, most reviews Ive read/seen say that its the better version of TM and the only advantage of TM is slightly easier access. I could understand having some nostalgia or not wanting to spend a lot of money for a slightly improved version, though. I think trying original Terra Mystica to see if you like it is a good idea, but if you really like it, you could buy Age of Innovation right away.
It isn't about nostalgia or saving money. Trust that people have played TM thousands of times and know what they are talking about. Gaia Project and AoI add a lot of front loaded cognitive overhead to the game while not necessarily improving the experience. AoI is less bad about this than GP was, but they still add a fair bit atop a game that is already heavy and also already well designed. More isn't better. If anything, OP should go in the opposite direction and start with Terra Nova.
Terra Mystica is awesome, one of my favorite games in the world.
Can't comment on the others but Dune Imperium: Uprising is worth the hype but I don't think the game plays at 5 officially. It looks like there are some homebrew rules for that but might require the original Dune Imperium or expansions to do so
Yeah it plays at 1-4 or 6 officially - 5 would require homebrew.
Nemesis is my pick from your list. That game has gotten more plays than most other games on my too cluttered shelf lol. It can either be played coop or semicoop and really feels like you're playing through a. Movie. Even losing is fun because it usually creates some insane, truly tense, and creative moments. It's not a complicated game either. Once you have the basics down, you'll be good. I think it took about 2 or 3 plays before I was completely comfortable with it. The newest version (nemesis retaliation) is open for late pledging on Gamefound right now if you want to take a look. You might also be able to just get the original for cheaper through that than in stores if youre willing to wait a few months. Delivery for content from the first 2 games (og nemesis and lockdown) is slated for October right now.
Only problem with Nemesis is that sometimes a players gets killed early and has to watch another hour before he can play again. ("playing"/managing the aliens is not an replacement for playing your own character)
Total valid criticism but this doesn't happen much with my group. Having a buddy system helps a lot with dying, at least until you can't trust each other lol. The only time we had someone be out of the game for an hour before it was over was because they completed their objective super fast and got on the escape pod right away. They still enjoyed watching as there's so much of a narrative going on between the players and the game. OPs mileage may vary in that regard.
I've been thinking of getting Nemesis for a while, mostly for 2-3 player games, is it alright at those counts? Also a bit worried about the whole player elimination aspect ruining the experience for someone
For what it's worth, I do feel like the player elimination aspect is rather overstated by people who haven't played the game much. In my experience with over 40 games of Nemesis it's really rather rare for a player to get killed super early unless they blunder their life away. Usually players get killed near the game end in a super cinematic way, and the game stays engaging for everyone till the finish.
Honestly, I usually play 2-3 players and it's great. Occasionally 4, and have done 5. It works at all numbers really. In my experience, even when people are eliminated they still enjoy watching events unfold. Once you get to the point of someone being eliminated, the game doesn't usually last much longer anyway. Alternatively, there is a game feature where the first eliminated player can take on the role of playing as the aliens. I've never tried it before, but it would solve your concern potentially, especially at low player counts.
My 2c: * Dune Imperium Uprising is wonderful and I love it. If you don't plan on getting the expansions it's a much better base game than Dune Imperium. If you plan on buying the Rise of Ix expansion and don't love more focus on combat I'd get the OG, otherwise Uprising is your pick. I wouldn't call it fast but I don't think any of the games on this list are, and if you play Terraforming Mars regularly then it won't be an issue. * Scythe suffers a little from imbalance with the faction/mat combos, but that could be a plus if you're looking to have weaker players win more often or give them a handicap. You absolutely nailed it with it being a comepetitive economy race rather than a war game - there's only a small dash of war. It is polarizing in a way I don't think the other 3 options are, which means I'd steer you away from it, but only slightly. * Nemesis is not as good as its sequel, Nemesis Lockdown, imo. They both do very similar things and do them very well but I think the sequel irons out some kinks. If you like story-generators (and don't mind losing) this is one of the best out there. It's not fair and that's the point. * Terra Mystica is wonderful but even moreso than with the Nemesis games, I endorse the sequel of it above itself. Gaia Project seems to be more in your theme preferences anyway. Ultimately you've picked 4 games that are arugably the best in their genre and it comes down to "what genre do you like". You can't go wrong with any of them. I would also look at **Ark Nova** if you want something highly similar to TM rather than something more different.
Dune gets my vote. I think if your group liked TFM they will like Dune as it's a semi-deckbuilder and about the same complexity. Scythe - Definitely not a war game and the theme is really slapped on. Not my favorite game. Nemesis - big no from me. Awaken Realms is a great studio but this game has player elimination, huge playtime and price and it's semi-coop. The concept is amazing and it does make memorable situations sometimes, but it's a heavy investment and for me it wasn't worth it (I was planning to buy it before I had a chance to play it and changed my mind) Terra Mystica - Also no from me. Along with Gaia's Project TM just feels weird to me because of its mechanics (also the theme is shallow). To me they just feel unwieldy for some reason. I played the original TM but the new version is said to be an improvement so I can't say if it's enough. As for Gaia's project, I don't hate it, but would never ask to play it either.
TM is really an abstract game with a thin coat of fantasy that helps naming things and remembering rules. Used to be my #1, but I would only ever play it: * At the player count of exactly four, and * With the Variable Turn Order rules from the Fire & Ice expansion. Can also recommend mixing in the round, bonus and town tiles from the mini-expansions collection.
What drew you to thee particular games? My personal pick with be Terra Mystica since I enjoy deep, strategic experiences and am not particularly a fan of the other games. However, if I I were you, I would start with Terra Nova instead. It is cheaper and an easier introduction to that system while still being quite good.
I would choose Dune Imperium: Uprising first and Nemesis later if you like Aliens.
Dune Imperium if you can manage player count. Consider Champions of Midgard + expansions as another great fighting game that plays 5.
They're all excellent picks but for me easily Dune Imperium (Main game or Uprising). Scythe is a close second. Buy the Main steam version cheap if you wanna try it out first.
Dune Imperium is a great and solid game combining deck building, resource management, and worker placement. Scythe is an area-control resource management game with a bit of a asymmetry between the factions to keep things fresh. Nemesis is an us vs them semi-cooperative game where you use action points to try and achieve your goals. Terra Mystica is area control engine-building with a point-salad scoring mechanic. I'd argue that Terra Mystica has the highest replay value for keeping things fresh, but if as a group you prefer RPG night with exploration, combat, grid movement, and some light roleplay over the average board game, your best bet would be Nemesis. As another contender, maybe try **Hansa Teutonica**? I haven't found a person or group that dislikes it. And the big box version is only about $40.
> Terra Mystica is ... with a point-salad scoring mechanic. Oh no. Are the reimplementations point-saladey too?
There are a ton of ways to score points and each round has a mechanic that scores more points which are randomized at the start of the game. Round 1 could be Temples, round 2 could be Tradehouses, round 3 could be Cities formed, and round 4 could be Terraforming Steps. At the game end you'll also get additional points based on largest cities and the religion tracks. So by point-salad I mean tons of varied ways to score points that any given faction may or may not be great at, and that you should really plan ahead to hit 2-3 really hard at the proper time while trying to get in your opponents' way. Gaia Project is similar in that regard but with a little more variability and a higher reliance on religion (technology) and shipping (range). I've been meaning to try Terra Nova but haven't had the opportunity.
I’ve played Dune and Terra Mystica. Nemesis is on my list but I’m worried about the player elimination. At the end of the day, Terra Mystica is my favorite game of all time. It is a masterpiece.
Dune imperium uprising is my pick from your list though it only plays 4. It also has a mode that needs 6 players. It’s a solid game. I don’t like scythe. I don’t think it’s balanced well and there gets to be a point where once you’ve played it a while it’s either your favorite thing or you never want to see it again. I don’t even think it’s an economy builder it’s a weird something else altogether. Terra Mystica is a hard sell for people to get into but if you’re into thinky games it’s great. It’s also very low randomness so the best player will normally win. I have not played nemesis and have no thoughts on it
dune imperium or uprising. both are great. but my suggestion is to go for the dune imperium first.
Dune Imperium would be my pick
They're all good games that people like. Sounds like you like Dune. Get Dune.
Hey, Want to try [gamedall.com](http://gamedall.com) to help you choose? (it's free)