Raiders of Scythia
- 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.
- 80 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.8 / 5
- Year
- 2020
About the game
Raiders of Scythia puts you in command of a nomadic Scythian warband raiding ancient settlements, gathering plunder, and completing quests across the steppe. Using worker placement and dice rolling, you'll recruit crew members, train animals, and gather provisions to fuel your raids. With variable player powers and a strong solo mode, no two campaigns play quite the same. It's part of the acclaimed North Sea universe from designer Shem Phillips, known for approachable yet meaty worker-placement design.
Hobbli's Notes
We love how Raiders of Scythia layers dice-drafting on top of classic worker placement, giving you meaningful choices even when the dice don't cooperate. The Quest and Settlement raiding paths offer genuine strategic diversity between plays. It sits comfortably in that sweet spot of medium-weight games that reward planning without demanding hours of study. The solo mode is one of the strongest in its class, making it an easy recommendation even for a collection of one.
What we like
- Worker placement combined with dice drafting creates interesting tactical puzzles each turn.
- Strong, well-supported solo mode makes it a great solitaire choice.
- Variable player powers add replayability across sessions.
- Attractive production and thematic raiding/quest structure.
Keep in mind
- Multiple scoring paths can feel overwhelming for first-time players.
- Some downtime between turns at higher player counts.
Who it's for
Great for ages 12 and up who enjoy medium-weight worker placement and dice games, appealing to solo gamers and strategy-minded groups of 2-4.
