Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire

Of the good games I played last year, Tawantinsuyu: The Inca Empire was my first choice for a replay in 2021—since Beyond the Sun still has not made it into my hands. And I am glad I brought it back to the table: the second game was clearly better than the first, with that lovely feeling of the game opening up in front of you as you get to know it.

At its core, the game revolves around the choices that lead you toward scoring. This time, our scoring strategies were more complex, and that showed in the final scores as well. It did not feel like a process where everyone simply follows the same obvious line; there were more routes to consider and more room to build your own plan.

The many village recruitments proved especially important. They kept the game at a more appropriate pace and stopped it from racing too quickly toward the end. That management of pace made the choices at the table carry more weight and gave the group a fuller, more satisfying game.

It is not perfect, but it is a very enjoyable entry in its category—one of those games I want to see on the table again, rather than merely remember having played.