Yggdrasil
- Players
- 1-6
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.6 / 5
- Year
- 2011
About the game
Yggdrasil is a cooperative game for 1-6 players who take on the roles of Norse gods defending Asgard against Fenrir, Jormungand, Loki, and other agents of Ragnarok. Each round an Enemy card advances a monster toward the world tree, and players must spend three actions among nine options, recruiting elves, forging weapons, sending Valkyries, and more, to hold back the encroaching chaos. Each god has a unique power that shapes their best role on the team. Coordination and timing are essential to surviving the mounting threat.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli likes the thematic weight Yggdrasil brings to its cooperative structure, leaning hard into Norse mythology's sense of impending doom. The variable god powers give each player a distinct job within the shared strategy. Dice rolling introduces some swing that can undercut careful planning, which cooperative-game purists may find frustrating. It's a solid pick for groups who enjoy mythological theming layered onto their teamwork puzzles.
What we like
- Strong cooperative teamwork built around escalating Norse mythology threats.
- Variable god powers create asymmetric roles within the team.
- Scales up to a full table of 6 players.
- Reasonable downtime for its complexity (downtime grade B).
Keep in mind
- Dice rolling can introduce frustrating luck into a cooperative puzzle.
- Moderate complexity may slow down newer players.
- Risk of one player dominating decisions (alpha-player syndrome).
Who it's for
Best for cooperative-game fans aged 13+ who enjoy mythological theming, in groups from 2 up to 6 players.
