Crown of Emara
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 75 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.0 / 5
- Year
- 2018
About the game
Crown of Emara puts players in the role of noble aspirants competing to succeed the beloved King Thedorius by winning over the citizens of the capital. Using two counselors that move along separate rondels, players manage card actions and worker movement to house and support arriving citizens, all while balancing two distinct scoring tracks. Only the lower of your two scores counts toward victory, forcing players to advance both tracks in tandem. It's a dense economic Euro built around careful multidimensional optimization.
Hobbli's Notes
An underappreciated Euro with a genuinely unique dual-rondel system that creates interesting tension between two competing paths to victory. It rewards careful planning and punishes lopsided strategies, which some players will love and others may find restrictive. The included solo mode is a nice touch for a game this cerebral.
What we like
- Unique dual-rondel counselor mechanism.
- Rewarding multidimensional scoring balance.
- Solo mode included for single-player play.
- Strong production values.
Keep in mind
- Steep learning curve around the rondel systems.
- Can invite analysis paralysis.
- Thin thematic integration compared to its mechanical depth.
Who it's for
Heavy Euro gamers aged 12 and up who enjoy intricate optimization puzzles, including solo players.
