it's a wonderful world board game

3 min read 23-01-2025

Meta Description: Dive into our comprehensive review of "It's a Wonderful World," a captivating engine-building board game. Discover its unique mechanics, replayability, and why it's a must-have for strategy game enthusiasts. Explore the game's components, gameplay, and overall experience. Learn about its expansion, "The Great Cities," and find out where to buy it!

Unboxing "It's a Wonderful World"

"It's a Wonderful World" isn't just a game; it's an experience. The unboxing itself is a delight. The components are high-quality, beautifully illustrated, and feel substantial. You'll find:

Player Boards: Individual boards provide a personalized space to track your progress and resources.
Cards: A deck of beautifully illustrated cards representing various advancements across history. These are the core of the game’s engine-building aspect.
Resource Tokens: Tokens representing the resources you'll need to build your civilization (wood, food, etc.).
Wonder Tiles: Unique tiles which provide powerful end-game bonuses.
Score Track: A track to easily monitor the score of each player.

Gameplay: Building Your Civilization

The goal of "It's a Wonderful World" is simple: build the most successful civilization by the end of the game. However, the path to victory is anything but simple. This is an engine-building game, meaning you'll strategically gather resources and use cards to create powerful combinations that generate more resources and points.

Each round, players simultaneously choose a card from their hand. The selected cards will determine which actions you can perform: gathering resources, constructing buildings, advancing your civilization, and more. Careful planning is key.

Key Mechanics:

Worker Placement (Indirect): Although not a direct worker placement game, the simultaneous card selection creates a similar feel, as you compete for limited resources and actions.
Engine Building: The core of the gameplay loop involves collecting cards, combining them, and optimizing your resource generation.
Set Collection: While not the primary mechanic, collecting sets of cards with matching icons can unlock bonus points.

A Turn-by-Turn Breakdown:

Draw Cards: Start by drawing new cards into your hand.
Select a Card: Simultaneously choose a card to play.
Perform Actions: Based on your chosen card, collect resources, construct buildings, or advance your civilization.
Discard Cards: Discard down to your hand limit.
Repeat: Continue until the end of the game, which is triggered by a specific number of rounds.

Replayability and Strategy

One of "It's a Wonderful World's" greatest strengths is its incredible replayability. The varied card combinations and strategic choices ensure that each game feels different. No two games will be alike. You will constantly refine your strategy.

The strategic depth is remarkable, offering countless possibilities for optimization and experimentation. Whether you're a seasoned board game veteran or a newcomer, there's always more to discover and master.

"The Great Cities" Expansion

The "Great Cities" expansion adds another layer of complexity and strategic depth. It introduces new cards, wonder tiles, and game mechanics that enhance the core gameplay. This expansion is highly recommended for players looking for a more challenging experience.

Where to Buy "It's a Wonderful World"

You can find "It's a Wonderful World" at most major board game retailers, both online and in physical stores. You can often find it on Amazon, local game stores, or through online board game retailers. Check local game stores for potential in-person demos!

Conclusion: A Wonderful World Indeed

"It's a Wonderful World" is a fantastic engine-building game offering a unique blend of strategy, replayability, and beautiful components. Its strategic depth ensures a compelling experience for players of all skill levels. If you're looking for a new game to add to your collection, this is a must-have. The beautiful art, simple rules, and high replayability make it a true winner. You'll find yourself building your civilization again and again in this wonderful world!