Codis Naturalis: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Card Overlay, Set Collection, Drafting
Age: 7+Player Count: 1 - 4 PlayersTime to Play: 20 - 30 Minutes
Game Designer: Thomas DupontGame Artist: Maxime MorinPublisher: Pandasaurus GamesYear Published: 2024Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher and Lets Play Games.
Game Designer: Thomas Dupont
Introduction:
In Codis Naturalis you are in charge of building a manuscript of the species within the forest. This includes the animals, fungi, plants and insects. In pursuit of the perfect manuscript, you will have to cover the elements you previously gained to score better cards.
Throughout the game there are resource cards that will be used to display the elements you require, and gold cards that can be placed once enough elements are gained. Both of these cards will score you points however the resource cards will not score many and are mainly used for resources, as the name suggests. Once a player reaches 20 points, the end of the game has been triggered and players will continue until all players had equal turns. There will then be two open objectives and one hidden objective (for each player) that will score additional points. Whoever has the higher amount of points has created the best manuscript and is the winner.
Game Anatomy:
Cards:
All resource cards, gold cards, and starter cards share several attributes. First, they will have 2-4 open spaces on the corners of the card. On these open corners, they will either be empty, depict one of the four resources, or have one of the three gold objects (quill, ink pot, parchment).
Each resource and gold card also has its matching colour and resource symbol on the back of the card. This is because each card can be played face-down instead of face-up when desired.
Resource Cards:
The resource cards are for building the resources needed in your manuscript to play better cards. A few of these cards will grant you one point when played.
Gold Cards:
Gold cards are where players score off the visible resources in their manuscript. Each gold card has a pre-requisite of resources that need to be visible before the gold card is placed. At the top of the card is how many points the player will gain. This can be a standard amount of points, several points based on the gold objects, or points based on how many corners the card covers.
Starter Cards:
Starter cards have four available corners, one of each element on the back, and a different combination of resources on the front of the card. Some of these resources will be in the middle of the starter card to show continuous availability.
Objective Cards:
Objective cards score at the end of the game and can be based on either the number of gold objects visible, a certain amount of a resource, or coloured patterns of cards within the manuscript.
Setup:
- Give each player two markers of one colour. One in front of the player and one in the zero space of the score track.
- Shuffle the resource cards, deal two to each player and reveal two face-up in the centre of the table.
- Shuffle the gold cards, deal one to each player and reveal two in the centre of the table.
- Shuffle the objective cards. Deal two to each player, then everyone will choose one to keep. Now draw two face-up in the centre of the table as communal goals.
How To Play:
Players will take turns continuously until someone reaches 20 points, or if the two decks are empty. When this occurs players finish out the round and then score the objectives. On a turn, a player will play one card and then draw one card.
Play a card:
When playing a card the player will choose one out of three cards in their hand. The card must be placed on visible corners on at least one existing card (it cannot be placed on any corner that doesn't have an available location). The card cannot be placed on multiple corners of the same card and a gold card’s pre-requisites must be met before placing. The cards will score immediately as they are placed.
Draw a card:
At the end of your turn you will draw one resource or gold card. This can either be from the available face-up displayed cards or from the top of a deck. 
Final Thoughts:
- Great cosmetics for the golden cards.
- Fast gameplay with plenty of decisions.
- Good variability of objectives.
- One of those games where you will want to play ‘just one more time’.
Codis Naturalis is a fast game of card overlaying. During the game you are trying your best to be the fastest to reach 20 points to give yourself the best opportunity to win after the objectives are scored. To do this you will have to optimise the amount of points from your gold cards, while also knowing when to let go of resources that are no longer helpful. This is in addition to considering both your hidden objective and the two public objectives. If you enjoy fast thinky games with gorgeous art then this is a nature-adjacent game that you will be playing in constant succession. Codis Naturalis has learnt a Silver Seal if Approval.
Comments
Post a Comment