Euphoria: Rapid Review
Information:
Mechanics: Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Set Collection, Worker Placement
Player Age: 13+Player Count: 2 - 6 PlayersTime to Play: 60 Minutes
Game Designer: Jamey Stegmaier, Alan Stone
Player Age: 13+
Game Designer: Jamey Stegmaier, Alan Stone
Rundown:
Euphoria is a dice worker placement where all players are working together to increase factions, dig tunnels and construct markets. However, this is not a cooperative game this is a competitive game. You may be building the board state together but ultimately you want the faction that matches your recruits to be in the best position and you want to play all of your stars to win the game. Stars are played; when markets are constructed, by reaching the end of a faction track, and worker spots such as markets.
Alteration:
The main alteration comes from the markets and the recruits. The game comes with 18 markets and 48 unique recruit cards, however each game played will only use 6 markets and a maximum of 3 recruits. This variation and the strategies that come with the unique push and pull mechanism of the game creates plenty of differentiation between plays, allowing for many returns to the game before it starts to feel repetitive.
Production:
The components in this game are amazing. The game comes with trays to keep all the components organised and results in less mess when the game is moved. The resources in the game are the real shining point where each resource isn't simply a coloured cube that matches the resource colour but they are shaped to match what they are. Such as the energy being shaped like little lightning bolts. This helps bring the game to life as well as give the players an already upgraded experience.
Interaction:
This is a highly interactive game as you are racing to get your stars placed first while increasing the track of each faction. Essentially all players are working to build a better place; a euphoria. So you will often be helping other players as you pursue your objectives. When factions are increased they will unlock ongoing benefits for all players with that faction recruited such as gaining an extra resource when going to a location or gaining both resources when going to the tunnel of that faction. The real bonus comes with the last two locations on this track, the first bonus will flip over every player's recruit that matches that faction and the last bonus will have every player give every recruit they have matching that faction one of their stars. If you have two or three recruits of the one faction this could skyrocket you into the lead.
Determination:
Pros:
- It's a worker placement game where you are working together with your opponents to build euphoria.
Cons:
- Rulebook is more confusing than other Stonemaier games.
- Can be limiting when you have fewer workers.
Euphoria is a very unique worker placement game. This is because there are four factions and throughout the game you are increasing their power over the board to give better bonuses to players with those factions. As the game continues, the board state is improved by each player working together to achieve the common euphoria. This also occurs when players construct markets together, whomever didn't take the risk and build the markets will have a negative effect for the rest of the game. This is until they find an opportunity to add one of their stars to the market. I can't think of another worker placement game with such a focus on building together while still being competitive. This is a great worker placement game but due to the heavy interaction, I believe it shines more at the higher player counts.
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