Wouter & Ymke 
In Benevolent, players find themselves on a quest within a mysterious forest, a place rich with history and magic, where the objective is to earn the favor of forest spirits and collect various gifts they offer.
👥 2-4 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 20-30 minutes
📝 Designer: Yuri Zhuravljov
🎨 Artwork: Svetlana Pikul
🏢 Publisher: Hobby World (Review copy provided)
https://hobbyworldint.com/
As you begin the game, players will take turns in a clockwise manner. Each turn consists of two parts: the movement and action phases. The ultimate goal is to be the first player to gather five different types of gifts from the forest spirits.
👣 During the movement phase, you place one of your Footsteps on a hex on the forest board. On your first turn, you can place a Footstep on any hex. However, from the second turn onwards, you must follow specific rules to place your Footsteps. Essentially, you can only place a Footstep on a hex adjacent to another one of your Footsteps, forming an unbroken group. You continue this until you have no more Footsteps left on your Character card, after which you start moving the Footsteps already on the board to new hexes.
🏃♂️ After moving, you proceed to the action phase, where you can either perform a specific action associated with the hex you’ve moved to or choose to gather leaves from the supply. Performing a hex action might require you to pay leaves depending on the number of Footsteps (other players’ and gray ones) present on the hex.
Different hexes represent various locations in the forest, offering unique actions:
🏛️ Stone Altar: Allows you to purchase one of the five different gifts using leaves.
🌾 Meadow: Grants you a Clover token.
🐦 Nest: Grants you a Feather token.
🌊 Pond: Offers an opportunity to move on a Dream Path, potentially earning a gift token.
🪙 Ring of Stones: Here, you can exchange one gift for another of higher value.
🪑 Wooden Table: Enables you to take a Secret tile, which can provide various advantages during the game.
Remember, if you decide not to perform a hex’s action, you can collect two leaves from the supply instead.
🔍 If an action allows you to gain a token that is not available on the Dream board, it can be taken from an opponent who possesses the most of that kind of token. During the game, you may acquire Secret tiles, which provide either one-time or permanent advantages. Single-use secrets can be utilized at any point during your turn, whereas permanent secrets stay active till the end of the game.
🏁 The game concludes when a player succeeds in collecting all five different gift tokens, thereby winning the game.
Stepping into the mystical world of Benevolent, a family game designed by Yuri Zhuravljov and published by Hobby World, promises a time of strategy and planning. This game is perfect for 2 to 4 players aged ten and above, offering a playing time that lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes per game session.
📚 Benevolent comes with a clear and concise ruleset, making it incredibly easy to learn and teach in just a few minutes. Moreover, each play session offers a slightly different experience due to the variable setup of the play area, which adjusts according to the number of players. Importantly, all aspects of the game are open from the start, ensuring that no randomness or luck is involved and that every player has an equal footing.
🧩 Navigating through the game is relatively straightforward, with clearly defined actions that allow the game to progress at a consistent pace. We particularly appreciate the puzzle aspect introduced by the action selection mechanics, where footsteps need to connect and form groups, all while considering leaf payments when occupying a tile with one or more opponents present.
🎯 The game’s objective is crystal clear: be the first to gather five different gift tokens. The avenues to achieve this are varied, incorporating elements of resource conversion, where you can upgrade these gifts or purchase them with leaves. Additionally, the Dream board offers an alternative route to secure these tokens, where advancing further could lead to acquiring more valuable gifts.
🔮 Another essential element is the Secret tiles, which offer one-time or permanent bonuses that could swing the game in your favor. A word of caution here – choosing these tiles from the Wooden Table might make a stronger tile available for the opponents. Notably, these tiles are double-sided and randomized at setup, providing a different experience each time.
🧙 Despite the game’s competitive nature, it maintains a friendly ambiance. A small mistake might cost you the lead, but the short playtime ensures it’s never too long before you can try your luck again. On the production front, the game impresses with heavy chips representing the gift tokens and vibrant artwork by Svetlana Pikul. However, the board might seem a tad cluttered, and the box slightly larger than necessary.
💭 Benevolent is a tense yet accessible game that beautifully combines a racing element with light strategy. Its quick turns and streamlined gameplay make it an enjoyable efficiency puzzle that feels different every time, catering perfectly to family audiences.
📝 We received a review copy of Benevolent from the publisher Hobby World—a big thank you for facilitating this review.
