Saturday, May 04, 2024

#37: Armageddon (Mark's Top 100 2024)


Armageddon

  • rank: 4,885
  • rating: 6.6
  • published: 2016
  • designers: Chris Marling & David Thompson
Print Status
  • out of print... but not difficult to find at decent prices on Amazon & Wal-Mart
Why It's On The List
  • Imagine a three-way collision between the Mad Max films, an auction game and a worker-placement city-building game. Throw in a little Notre Dame-ish fend off the invaders (marauders instead of rats)... and allow players to use people as currency in the auctions as well as workers to keep your post-apocalyptic settlement running.
Tips & Tricks:
    • The artwork is evocative without leaning too hard into the dystopian grimness… and the iconography is very clear once you get the hang of it
    • I’ve found that it takes players 2-3 rounds (roughly half a game) to get acclimated and then they’re ready to defend their very tiny barb-wire encrusted empire.
    • The auctions are double-layered... they are "get to choose first" auctions for buildings and for equipment. In addition, the winner of each auction gets a small bonus, and the loser gets a penalty. 
    Extras
    • I've been working on a review (complete with fiction sections) of Armageddon for years now... short version: I think all of the elements fit together to make a really satisfying and enjoyable game experience.
    • I also think this is a criminally over-looked game... and I said as much in a really good Opinionated Gamers article you should check out.
    • This is the first of two games on this list designed by David Thompson. (If I remember correctly, this was David's first published game!)

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