Architects of the West Kingdom

Despite the teasing from John the Forerunner, we built a cathedral and had a great time. Architects of the West Kingdom confirmed that the buzz around it is not accidental: it is a fantastic game. I was even happier that I chose it over Gùgōng in my last order, although I am sure that one will be at least decent too.

In this particular game, we were led toward building a cathedral and eventually reaching scoring. The source does not go into the details of every action or round phase, but the sense is that the path to the final result keeps the game lively and earns the enthusiasm.

The interaction that stood out most from the session was mainly the company and the teasing at the table, rather than a specific rules-driven conflict described here. And the best part? When final scoring began, I was absolutely convinced I had come last. Instead, I won by a wide margin. Hadouken.

My conclusion on Architects remains simple and cheerful: it is a choice I do not regret at all. It is one of those games that leaves you happy when you get up from the table—even when, until the final scoring, you have no idea that you are winning.

Updated session

The later session was not another game of Architects, but Caverna with its rather hard-to-find expansion. The new races genuinely give Caverna fresh life, and the expansion is anything but empty. Still, because Caverna reaches the table about once a year, the whole idea felt more gimmicky than I would like. Most races break fundamental rules, and the interactions between racial powers and the two rulebooks create some awkward interpretations. If I played it more often, I might see it as a pleasant refresh; as I experience it now, I do not consider it an integral part of the base game.