Architects of the West Kingdom

Architects of the West Kingdom arrived with the usual table teasing and ended with us raising a cathedral. For an adult who has spent another day looking at screens, that has a rather satisfying bit of theatre to it.

At its heart, the game has you work towards building the cathedral and organise your efforts around that aim. The session feels as though you are putting something tangible together, rather than merely shuffling things about to collect points.

The interaction does not need to shout to matter: the table fills with choices, nudges, and that steady uncertainty over who has actually pulled ahead. Then scoring arrives, takes off its spectacles, and explains that you have been reading the whole game incorrectly.

When final scoring began, I was certain I was last; I finished first by a margin.

This is not merely a game that makes a good first impression. It is a properly excellent game, and the fuss around it seems entirely deserved.

Updated session

No later play of Architects of the West Kingdom is recorded, so the impression remains unchanged: the game keeps the value of your position hidden until the final count.