Pixie Queen
- Players
- 2-5
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.1 / 5
- Year
- 2017
About the game
Pixie Queen casts players as mischievous pixies serving a tyrannical queen, competing across seven rounds to avoid penalty points while chasing rare rewards. Each round you steal goods from a nearby village, deploy action disks across 21 possible actions, and make simultaneous offerings of gold, silver, or food to satisfy the Queen's cravings. Success earns promotions and trading advantages, while failure racks up the penalty points that determine the loser. Uniquely, the player with the fewest points wins.
Hobbli's Notes
Pixie Queen stands out for flipping the usual scoring convention, since here you're racing to avoid penalties rather than rack up points. The simultaneous offering phase and wide array of worker-placement actions give it real strategic texture, though the long playtime and heavy downtime make it a demanding choice. It rewards players who enjoy dense, take-that worker placement with an unusual scoring twist.
What we like
- Unique inverted scoring where fewest points wins.
- Wide variety of 21 possible actions adds strategic depth.
- Simultaneous offering phase creates real player tension.
- Distinct pixie-and-queen theme stands out from typical euros.
Keep in mind
- Long two-hour playtime with high downtime.
- Take-that elements can feel punishing to some players.
- Rules complexity requires an experienced group.
Who it's for
Best for experienced euro-gamers 12+ who enjoy heavy worker placement and take-that mechanics, playable in groups of 2-5.
