Skip to main content

Mycelia - North American Expansion: Review

Mycelia - North American Expansion: Review

Information:

Mechanics:  Area Control, Engine Building
Player Age: 10+
Player Count: 1- 5 Players
Game Designer and Artist: J.J. Neville
BGG Weight: 2.52
Publisher: Split Stone Games
Time to Play: 40 - 130 Minutes 
Year Published: 2025
Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.

Introduction:

Mycelia is a game that I reviewed at the start of the year (click here). It is a smart engine-building game that has players competing for board supremacy while cleverly planning when the best time to decay and gain the action linked to the mushroom is. Once a player has a decayed mushroom under each spot the game will end. This expansion has added a fifth player, with no additional rule additions which is always great. 

As well as 34  new mushrooms grown in North America. Some of these mushrooms have abilities that match core concepts in the base game, and some work off a new mechanism added, saplings and grandfather trees. Some of these mushrooms have abilities new resource type which is simply a clear box, this is any resource.

Saplings and Grandfather Trees:

Each new triangle tile can gain a sapling throughout the game. This is done by the player rolling the "O" symbol when the tile is added to the board. During a spore action if one of the spores is spreading on a sapling tile the player can choose to add their spore onto the saplings instead of the tile. This removes that spore from the network meaning it can not be used in fruiting mushrooms. When the spore is added to a sapling the wind die will be rolled and a bonus will be gained based on both the die and the amount of spores on the sapling.

A new type of action is introduced in this expansion called Age. To age the mother mushroom has to be on the tile the sapling is on and there have to be three spores on the sapling (of any colour). After this is done the spores are returned to their players and the sapling is removed and replaced with a grandfather tree. 

A grandfather tree will reward its owner five points at the end of the game, instantly decays any mushrooms on the tile, counts towards the player's network, and lastly prevents any spores or mushrooms from being on the tile (any mother mushrooms are still allowed). If a spore enters this tile in the future it will be pushed to an adjacent tile of the choice of the grandfather tree's owner. 

Final Thoughts:

- Easy addition to the base game.
- Increases player count with no added complexity.
- Grandfather trees add a new way to score by focusing on the board. 
- Saplings add an easier way to add a spore to your network for that coveted resource that can't be acquired easily when the players' networks aren't working in their favour.

Mycelia North America is an easy addition to anyone who already enjoys Mycelia. For me, the base game was an instant hit with its mean/ relaxed area control board space (based on the players) and interesting twist on engine building that left players with tough choices on when it was best to decay. This expansion adds an easy addition of a fifth player, I haven't had the chance to try that yet to see if those games would be better with only three mushrooms per player. As well as some new mechanisms that don't increase the complexity too much but create a wider depth of decision space. Players can aim for a good portion of points and a better spore network by creating a grandfather tree and/or focusing on the more immediate benefits gained from rolling right when using saplings.

Click...feed the addiction: 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Critter Kitchen: Rapid Review

Critter Kitchen: Rapid Review Information: Mechanics:   Worker Placement, Set Collection, Variable, Simultaneous, Programmed Movement Player Age:  10+ Player Count: 1  - 5   Players Game Designer:  Alex Cutler, Peter C. Hayward Game Artist:  Sandara Tang Publisher:  Lucky Duck, Cardboard Alchemy  Time to Play:  20 Minutes  Year Published:  2025 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the VR Distribution.  Rundown: Critter Kitchen is a simultaneous worker placement game played over seven rounds. It will have players gaining ingredients from several locations in preparation for creating three dishes; twice in the game and a final seven-course meal for the critic at the end of the game. Each round you will be sending out three workers; a mouse, a lizard, and a boar. Each of these workers has a speed (order of resolution) and an amount they can carry. This alternates from the mouse resolving first but...

Power Hungry Pets: Review

Power Hungry Pets:  Review Information: Mechanics:   Player Elimination, Card Game Player Age:  7+  Player Count:  2  - 6 Players Time to Play:  15  Minutes  Game Designer:   Zwierzaki żądne wÅ‚adzy Game Artist:  Seiji Kanai Publisher : Exploding Kittens Year Published:   2024 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the VR Distribution. Introduction: There have been many variations to the classic microgame Love Letter , and Power Hungry Pets is Exploding Kitten's twist on this classic. In the game, you are aiming to win multiple rounds by having the highest-valued card at the end of the game or by eliminating all the other players.  Game Anatomy: Each card will display a value from 0 to 10. This value determines the card’s strength when comparing against opposition. The deck is made up of 21 cards, the lower cards populate more in the deck such as value 1 has five copies, values 2 and 3 have three copi...

Expand Your Game: Seals

Expand Your Game: Seals Some games that have been reviewed so far really stand out and for those games they deserve an extra highlight. These seals are those extra highlights for a Kickstarter Seal i would highly recommend backing or seeking out the kickstarter post release. For the Silver Seals i would seek out those games if they meet your style of game. The Golden Seals will be pat of my collection for a long time and i would highly recommend adding them to your collection. Go to Golden Games: Marvel United Power Rangers Deck Building Game and Zeo Welcome To.. Gem Hens Everdell: Bellfaire Draftosaurus Eminent Domain Crusader Thy Will Be Done Wingspan: Oceania Sorcerer City Tapestry Everdell: Pearlbrook Cóatl  Air, Land and Sea Wingspan Element Outback War of Supremacy Kings Struggle Can't Stop Express Queenz Kamigami Battle - Battle of the Nine Realms Bushido Bob's Your Uncle Eight Minute Empire Shobu Cryptocurrency Demon Worker Dice...