Excavation Earth
- 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.
- 120 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 3.8 / 5
- Year
- 2021
About the game
A century from now, Earth is a ruin, and alien scavengers have arrived to dig up whatever humanity left behind. In Excavation Earth, you lead a team of explorers across three action-packed rounds, drafting multi-use cards, excavating artifacts, and playing the market to profit from the wreckage of a lost civilization. Traders and influencers let you manipulate prices and undercut rivals in the bazaars, while a dedicated collection track rewards players who curate cohesive artifact sets for museums back home. The player with the most money when the dust settles wins, and a built-in solo mode lets you play alone.
Hobbli's Notes
The mashup of drafting, movement, and market speculation gives this a satisfying push-and-pull rhythm, and the three-round structure keeps it tight rather than sprawling. The sci-fi archaeology theme is a fun twist on more familiar economic euros. It leans toward heavier, fiddlier strategy gamers rather than casual tables.
What we like
- The three-round structure keeps a fairly heavy game from overstaying its welcome.
- Combining drafting, movement, and market manipulation creates varied turn-to-turn decisions.
- The built-in solo mode adds flexibility for solitaire play.
- The sci-fi scavenger theme is fresh and well-integrated into the mechanics.
Keep in mind
- The mix of subsystems can be a lot to teach to new players.
- At two hours and high complexity, it's not suited to casual or family tables.
- Market-based scoring can feel opaque until players have a few plays under their belt.
Who it's for
Experienced strategy gamers aged 14+ who enjoy economic and drafting games, playable solo or with up to 4 players.
