Wouter & Ymke 
Silver & Gold Pyramids emerges as a reimplementation of Phil Walker-Harding’s Silver & Gold, transporting players from the high seas of pirate treasure hunts to the ancient and mysterious pyramids of Egypt. In this game, the allure of buried treasures is found not on pirate islands but within the historic walls of these Egyptian pyramids, offering a twist to the original game’s theme.
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 20 minutes
📝 Designer: Phil Walker-Harding
🎨 Artwork: Oliver Freudenreich, Sandra Freudenreich
🏢 Publisher: Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag (review copy provided)
The game retains the familiar mechanics of Silver & Gold, utilizing cards with polyomino shapes depicted on them across four rounds. However, unlike its counterpart, Silver & Gold Pyramids invites players to embark on a more structured journey. Participants start at the base of a pyramid and navigate a continuous path towards the tomb’s center, where the most valuable treasures await. This path is not without its challenges, as players encounter gemstones, torches, and even skulls of past adventurers. These elements play a crucial role in scoring, as treasures add points while skulls deduct them. Fortunately, potions scattered throughout the pyramids allow players to mitigate the negative impact of skulls.
🏆 Scoring in the game is dynamic. Upon reaching the pyramid’s center, players pick a new card, earning points for completing a color-matched pair and the card itself. After four rounds, the highest-scoring player claims victory.
👨👩👧👦 Designed by Phil Walker-Harding and published by Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, the game comes with a swift pace, with each session lasting 20 to 30 minutes. Its simplicity makes it an excellent choice for families, including children and non-gamers. Suitable for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and above, Silver & Gold Pyramids comes with dry-erase markers and a diverse deck of pyramid cards, ensuring a different experience in every playthrough.
🎯 The game strikes a balance between strategy and luck. Selecting pyramid cards with favorable treasures is strategic, but luck plays a part in the shapes drawn each round. With one card remaining unrevealed per round, players must adapt their strategies to the unpredictability of the draw.
🤝 Silver & Gold Pyramids features minimal player interaction, focusing instead on individual strategy and decision-making. The numbered pyramid cards serve as tiebreakers and influence scoring in case of a color-matched pair completion. This aspect of the game, minimal though it may be, adds some strategic consideration without being overly competitive.
🎨 Featuring artwork by Oliver Freudenreich and Sandra Freudenreich, the visuals in Silver & Gold Pyramids are modest yet aptly complement the theme. A thoughtful touch is the design of the color cards, each featuring a different pyramid illustration. This detail aids players who might have difficulty with color differentiation, ensuring an inclusive gaming experience.
💭 Silver & Gold Pyramids is a delightful alternative to the original game. It offers a fresh perspective for seasoned players and serves as an engaging introduction to flip and write games for newcomers. Its compact size also makes it a convenient travel companion.
📝 Please note that we received a review copy of Silver & Gold Pyramids from the publisher, Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag.
