Kanban EV

I was genuinely pleased to see the return of the best kind of brain-burning game from the well-known Portuguese designer. The original Automotive Revolution was already a beast, but this edition arrives vastly improved: not only through small gameplay changes, but above all through an almost complete reorganisation of the rules. And yes, I still remember it: after our first play, I found a post listing 23 errata for the first edition. Twenty-three. At that point, we are not talking about a correction; we are talking about a different game™.

At its core, Kanban EV remains a dense, demanding euro, the sort that asks you to keep track of many things at once and does not forgive absent-mindedness. The gameplay changes are small, but that is precisely why they matter: they do not tear out what the game was, they simply make its path smoother and less punishing for anyone trying to understand what is going on.

The biggest difference shows in the flow of the rules and in the scoring. Where the first edition could leave you hunting for clarifications and wondering whether you were playing correctly, Kanban EV provides a much clearer framework for the game’s choices and competition. Scoring now feels more logical, so the race between players makes more sense instead of resembling an accounting audit full of traps.

With O'Toole's magical contribution, the game is also much more approachable visually and easier to grasp overall. It has not become light—absolutely not. It has simply become the edition a design this strong deserves: it stands shoulder to shoulder with its creator’s best and most complex euros. Highly recommended, provided you are ready for it to pleasantly set your brain on fire.