Wouter & Ymke 
In the enchanting realm of Mycelia, players embark on a journey to transport dewdrops from their forest to the Shrine of Life, seeking the favor of the Goddess of the Forest. To succeed, they must harness the powers of the mysterious forest heroes, represented as cards. These heroes, when incorporated into a player’s deck, enhance their abilities and skills. The first player to clear their game board of dewdrops wins the game, receiving the Goddess’s coveted blessing.
👥 1-4 players, ages 9+
⌛ Playing time: 45 minutes
📝 Designer: Daniel Greiner
🎨 Artwork: Justin Chan, Matt Paquette & Co.
🏢 Publisher: Ravensburger (review copy provided)
Each player’s turn comprises a series of steps. Initially, they must play three cards from their hand. These cards are placed one by one onto a discard pile located next to the game board, executing the card’s action as it’s played. Though the primary objective is to remove dewdrops, cards also assist players in gathering leaves, the game’s currency. By moving dewdrops toward a player’s shrine field on their board, they can be instantly removed. Additionally, the leaves allow players to recruit powerful heroes from an available showcase. The cost of hiring these heroes ranges from 2 to 8 leaves, with the cost indicating the hero’s strength. After a purchase, the new card is placed face down on the player’s draw pile.
🔀 Beyond playing cards and recruiting heroes, players can also undertake basic actions, which are depicted on action tiles beneath their game board. Each action can be executed once per turn. The first action allows players to pay a single leaf to refresh the card showcase, while the second action, at the cost of three leaves, lets them move any dewdrop by one field.
⏳ Concluding a turn involves several checks and actions. Players must ensure all their played cards are resting on the discard pile and refill the showcase to its total capacity of five cards. They should also assess the shrine’s status. Depending on the number of players – 20 dewdrops for four players, 15 for three, and 10 for two – the shrine will be deemed full at different capacities. When full, the Shrine of Life is reset, and a dice roll determines both the number and placement of additional dewdrops on a player’s board, which they must then work to remove. Players then draw three new cards, and if unable, they shuffle their discard pile to create a new draw pile and draw the cards from there. The next turn then passes to the player on the left.
🏆 The game concludes once a player successfully removes the final dewdrop from their board. This can be achieved on their turn or as a result of another player’s actions. When this milestone is reached, the round progresses until all players have had an equal number of turns. The ultimate winner is the individual with no dewdrops on their board, with a tie being decided by the player possessing the highest number of leaves.
Mycelia, designed by Daniel Greiner and produced by Ravensburger, offers a delightful deck-building experience suitable for 1-4 players. The game is recommended for ages nine and up, with an estimated playtime of 30 to 45 minutes, which can vary based on the number of players. For those unfamiliar with deck-building games, the rulebook thoughtfully introduces the mechanism, ensuring an inclusive experience for all players. However, some of the terminology in the rulebook might need to be clarified. Terms like “supply pile” instead of the more commonly known “draw pile” or referring to action tiles beneath the board as “cards” may require a second read for some players.
🎨 The artwork by Justin Chan, along with Matt Paquette & Co., adds an undeniable allure to the game. With its captivating and adorable designs, it especially appeals to younger audiences, making it a perfect choice for families. Each card is meticulously illustrated, capturing the essence of the enchanting forest theme. While the components effectively serve their purpose, they are not particularly outstanding in terms of quality. A notable downside was the game box’s fragility. Unfortunately, our copy experienced some damage during transit. Additionally, the absence of plastic wrap around the box, which is instead sealed with stickers, is worth noting. The game features a 3D shrine, which, though aesthetically pleasing and easy to assemble, is not essential to the gameplay and feels more like an added novelty.
🃏 Diving into the gameplay, the structure is refreshingly simple. Players play three cards on their turn, benefit from their effects, consider buying extra cards to enhance their deck, and, if advantageous, utilize one of the basic actions. Even the age recommendation feels generous, as younger kids below nine can quickly grasp and enjoy the game. The primary objective is straightforward: clear your board before anyone else. While there’s minimal reliance on luck, except for the cards drawn from the pile, the strategic depth is not extensive.
🔄 Replayability is present but somewhat limited. Although each game can differ based on the cards you acquire, the core mechanics largely remain unchanged. The double-sided player boards introduce some variety, and an included set of extension cards provides alternate actions, such as removing cards from your deck or gaining extra action tiles. However, these additions don’t drastically alter the base game.
💭 Mycelia is a light, engaging family game set within a beautifully illustrated forest. It serves as a beautiful introduction to the deck-building genre. The game revolves around optimizing card play, strategic hero recruitment, and utilizing basic actions to achieve the primary goal: clearing the board. It’s an efficiency puzzle game best suited for casual players, family game nights, and younger audiences.
📝 Disclaimer: We received a review copy of Mycelia from the game publisher, Ravensburger.
