YORKTON - The Meeple Guild has been reviewing for quite some time, and playing games even longer, so increasingly rare is a game that unexpectedly impresses everyone at our table in just about every aspect.
Out of the blue Aridnyk is one which most certainly did.
If you have not yet heard of Aridnyk don’t be too surprised. This one comes from Ukraine and is just in the process of getting its English edition – in fact our copy has the cards sleeved with an English translation, which is actually kind of neat.
Designed by Volodymyr Kuznietsov, and Andrii Yanovskiy Aridnyk from publisher Boardova is apparently based on an earlier graphic novel – which suggests some lineage but has no particular impact on the game, although it’s a neat fact to be aware of.
Where the graphic novel connection is of importance is that Aridnyk : The Creation of the World was created by Liudmyla Samus who provides the absolutely amazing art – yes depending on personal tastes of course – for the game. All illustrations are done by the author. The plot and setting of the graphic novel and the board game are based on the ethnographic research “Hutsulschyna” by Volodymyr Shukhevych, the novel “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” by Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky as well as a variety of folk songs and tales from the Ukrainian Carpathians, explains the rule book in terms of background.
That the game is based on Carpathian Hutsuls' myths and legends, really adds a sense of both history and fantasy to this one.
The game is a tile laying one, where players are gathering ‘trinket’ items that can help, to complete ‘plots’ also gained along the way.
Oh, and there is a pile of both trinket and plot cards so you will be trying to achieve a significant variety of things to gain ‘sheep’ in this one. The player with the most sheep at game’s end wins.
Initially, some of the plot goals will seem ridiculously difficult, but there are in-game options that allow them to be carried out smoother than it will seem on the first play, or two.
“In turns, players will place tiles, resolve their effects and move their shepherds and legendary creatures through those tiles,” explains the rule book.
“In this game you'll be playing as a shepherd. With the first warm days you'll take your herd and ascend to the mountains, hoping that your sheep will thrive and the mysterious spirits of the Carpathians will help you in your task, providing their mercy.”
Through game play five spirits will eventually be added to the tile lay out, which ‘shepherds’ may interact with on their turns. Each spirit provides some ‘boon’ which you can generally use to your advantage.
This is a game that comes at you with an awful lot going on, and it will feel a bit overwhelming to start, but it will soon surprise you in how streamlined things are.
That doesn’t mean the game is easy. While luck plays its role – the cards available, which tiles are laid where by players etc – this is still a rather ‘thinky’ game. You need to be careful in card selection. You need a plan, and you must work that plan – at least until it gets kiboshed by what others do (Aridnyk plays one-to-four). It can feel a bit heavy – for example in this writers case I love it but would not want to play twice at a sitting.
But recommending Aridnyk is about as easy a decision as a reviewer will have.
Everything here is a cut above average, and the overall game is a gem.
