Cosmic Colonies

Cosmic Colonies has the good sense not to pretend it is a grander game than it is: a clean, compact puzzle of cards, resources, and that familiar little panic of making the right piece fit in the right place. The production is nicely handled, and it has the sort of table presence that makes a Tuesday after work feel slightly less like administration.

You play cards to gain resources, then spend those resources to place your pieces in a small Tetris-like arrangement. The aim is straightforward: build your space efficiently and collect victory points.

Its interest comes from how tightly those choices are packed into a game of under forty minutes. It does not drown you in rules or spectacle; it simply asks you to study your own puzzle, weigh cards against resources, and find the placement that leaves the next piece room to breathe. The mini expansion included with the Kickstarter edition may add a little more competition, though that is a footnote rather than the point.

There is a pleasing amount to chew over for such a short game, but players looking for something with more depth will probably want to look elsewhere. Cosmic Colonies is quietly good at its particular job, rather than a game that changes the direction of your collection.