Valdora

Valdora

FantasyTransportation
Players
3-5
Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
4 players
Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
60 min
AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
10+
ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
2.3 / 5
Year
2009

About the game

Valdora sends adventurers into a hidden valley of gold, silver, and precious gems, part of Michael Schacht's celebrated Gold Trilogy alongside The Golden City and Felinia. Players draft cards to guide movement and pick up gemstones, delivering them to patrons for fame and fortune while racing to out-maneuver rivals doing the same. Set collection and careful route planning around the valley's resources drive the scoring. Recognized with an Empfehlungsliste nod for the 2009 Spiel des Jahres, it's a family-friendly pick-up-and-deliver game with an appealing fantasy backdrop.

Hobbli's Notes

Valdora is a lighter, approachable entry in Schacht's well-regarded Gold Trilogy, and the drafting-into-pickup-and-deliver loop is easy to grasp while still rewarding planning ahead. Its Spiel des Jahres recommendation nod speaks to its family-friendly polish. It doesn't reinvent the pick-up-and-deliver genre, but it executes the formula cleanly with attractive components.

What we like

  • Accessible pick-up-and-deliver design suited to families.
  • Part of the well-regarded Gold Trilogy by Michael Schacht.
  • Recognized with a Spiel des Jahres recommendation nod.
  • Attractive components and fantasy theme.

Keep in mind

  • Downtime can build as players plan routes around each other.
  • Formula sticks closely to established pick-up-and-deliver conventions.
  • May feel light for players seeking deeper strategic complexity.

Who it's for

Great for families and casual gamers ages 10+ who enjoy pick-up-and-deliver and set-collection games, in groups of 3-5.

Mechanics

DraftingPick-up and DeliverMovementSet Collection

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