Skara Brae

Skara Brae

Card Game
Players
1-4
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
1 player
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
60 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
13+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.7 / 5
Year
2025

About the game

Skara Brae takes players to a Neolithic settlement on Scotland's Orkney Islands, where you lead a community of farmers and hunters through four rounds of card-drafting and worker resource management. You'll draft cards and assign workers to furnish homes, cook meals, craft tools, and trade goods: while managing the midden waste that inevitably piles up as you go. At the end of each round, you must feed, clothe, and shelter your growing settlers or suffer the consequences. After four rounds, the player with the most points wins. Designer Shem Phillips brings his signature tight card-drafting design to a fresh prehistoric setting.

Hobbli's Notes

Hobbli's team appreciates the clever midden-cleanup mechanic, which adds a nice resource-management wrinkle on top of a fairly standard drafting-and-worker-placement core. Shem Phillips fans will recognize the tight, efficient design philosophy from his other titles. With virtually no downtime and a strong solo mode, it's an easy game to get to the table in almost any group size. The prehistoric theme is a refreshing change of pace from typical medieval or fantasy settings.

What we like

  • Clever midden waste mechanic adds a fresh resource-management twist.
  • Very low downtime keeps turns snappy for all player counts.
  • Strong solo mode from a designer known for tight, efficient design.
  • Unique prehistoric setting stands out from typical historical themes.

Keep in mind

  • Card drafting core may feel familiar to fans of similar euro games.
  • Moderate complexity may require a rules explanation for newer players.
  • As a newer release, its long-term table presence isn't yet proven.

Who it's for

Good for strategy gamers aged 13+ who enjoy card drafting and worker management, playing solo or in groups of up to 4.

Mechanics

ChainingDraftingSolo / Solitaire GameTrack MovementTurn OrderVariable Player Powers

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