Widget Ridge: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Head to Head, Engine Builder, Deck-Building
Player Age: 12+Player Count: 1 - 2 PlayersTime to Play: 15 - 45 Minutes
Game Designer: Ian TaylorGame Artist: Matt BurtonPublisher: Furious Tree GamesYear Published: 2019Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.
Player Age: 12+
Game Designer: Ian Taylor
Introduction:
Each player will start with a ten-card deck used to generate gold and spark. Gold is only valid for that turn but the spark is saved from turn to turn. When a player reaches 100 spark they win the game. Following the rules of all deck-building games, players will improve their deck throughout the game, and will gain new ways to generate gold/spark. As well as this, players will build a modular engine in front of them in the form of their invention. The invention can be built by combining three types of cards and can be augmented and changed throughout gameplay.
Card Anatomy:
Starting Cards:
The starting cards consist of widgets and gadgets that will give the player different amounts of spark and gold.
Spark Tracker:
Two cards will be used to track how much spark each player has.
Inventions:
Each player may build one full construct in their workshop. This invention can only contain one augment, device and accessory. Invention components can either be played then discarded for their play effect (augment and accessory) or they can be played into the workshop as long as it connects to a pre-existing invention component. This is done by matching icons on the side of the cards. There may be multiple symbols on a card but only one needs to be matched to add on a card. The device card has an ability that is activated when an augment and/or accessory is attached.
Once an invention has all three components connected it will activate and complete an action at the end of every turn. This action is a combination of full construct ability across all the cards. These cards can be discarded during a turn and replaced with new cards of a matching type.
Goal Cards:
These are cards that can change the game to have a different value of spark needed to win, as well as an added rule that will happen throughout the game.
Set up:
- Shuffle the marketplace deck and reveal a card row of six cards.
- Give each player their shuffled starting deck.
- Each player draws five cards, the starting player only draws three.
How to Play:
Players will choose cards for their play effect, generating gold and spark. Gold is spent to buy new cards from the marketplace (refreshing the marketplace every time a card is purchased). During this phase, cards can also be played as a part of an invention, activating any connect abilities as they occur. Following this play phase, hand cards are discarded and invention components will remain in front of a player. A new hand of 5 cards is drawn and a full construct ability will activate now if able. The game ends once a player gains 100 spark or by a different means as represented by the goal card.
Final Thoughts:
- In concept a full construct ability sounds great but in practicality it is not as interesting of a mechanism.
- Race to the victory points.
- Have to choose between playing a card for the play effect or building it towards the construct effect.
- Not many fascinating ability cards, instead they mainly focus on generating spark or gold.
- Compact package.
At its core Widget Ridge is a race game towards 100 sparks. You will build your deck in pursuit of the most points as fast as possible. The added element is the invention you design in front of you. This invention is made up of three attributes, a payment (augment) then an effect from the device or from the accessory. The problem with this is 80% of the time the player is always going to pick either the device or accessory effect resulting in the invention addition being less interesting than expected. This invention can be altered throughout gameplay as you draw better options or chose to return the cards into your deck so you can use them for their play effect later. Widget widge excels more when players are aware they are racing for points instead of the engine building from more traditional deck building games. If you enjoy a mix of deck building games with a race towards victory points then you should try Widget Widge.
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