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In The Cathedral of Orléans, players are transported back to the year 1598, in the heart of France. The game is set in the bustling town of Orléans, by the scenic Loire River. This game brings together elements of strategy and cooperation as players work together to build a cathedral in this historic setting.
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 30 minutes
📝 Designers: Wolfgang Dirscherl, Markus Müller & Reiner Stockhausen
🎨 Artwork: Klemens Franz
🏢 Publisher: dlp games (review copy provided)
The primary goal of the game is for players to collaborate in constructing the Cathedral of Orléans. This is achieved by collecting cathedral sections, either as direct rewards or through blueprint tiles. The challenge is to complete the cathedral within three rounds. Success means a collective win, while failure to do so results in a shared loss.
🔴🔵 During each turn, players pick a tile from either a red or blue bag, without looking inside. This tile is then used to execute one of the various actions on the gameboard. Players match the drawn tile to a corresponding follower space on the board to perform the associated action. Monks, represented as joker tiles, offer flexibility as they can be placed on any space.
🎒 The game includes various actions like moving along land routes (cart) or rivers (boat) and collecting items like goods or glass rosettes. These items are stored in a knapsack, which has a limited capacity. Managing this knapsack is important, as it influences other actions such as resting to gain blueprint tiles or delivering goods at the marketplace.
🔨 Players can also perform other actions, such as fulfilling orders at workshops, delivering items to hourglass tiles, and participating in festival ground events. Each of these actions can lead to rewards like blueprint tiles, cathedral sections, or additional resources.
⏳ The round ends when a player places a tile on the bell tower space, an action typically reserved for when no other actions are available. At the end of each round, players reorganize the follower tiles into their respective bags, depending on the side of the board they were played. The game reaches its conclusion after three rounds. The collective goal is to have the cathedral fully built by this point to achieve a victory.
The Cathedral of Orléans, designed by Wolfgang Dirscherl, Markus Müller, and Reiner Stockhausen, and published by dlp games, is a cooperative family board game that blends simplicity with tactical decision-making. Intended for 2-4 players aged 8 and up, it offers a relatively quick gameplay experience, averaging around 30 minutes per session. The rules are straightforward, making it an ideal choice for families, including those with younger children who might find more complex games overwhelming.
🎨 At first glance, fans of the Orléans series will instantly recognize the signature artwork of Klemens Franz. The game components are functional and durable, although they may not stand out as particularly extraordinary. However, the true highlight is the 3D cathedral that players work together to build. This element adds a satisfying and visually appealing aspect to the game, especially when players finally complete the cathedral, marking their victory.
👨👩👧👦 Gameplay in The Cathedral of Orléans requires a balance of tactical thinking, memory, and luck. The key to success lies in remembering which tiles are in which bag, choosing the right actions at the right time, and managing resources effectively. The game doesn’t delve into deep strategic elements; rather, it focuses on cooperative play and bag management, differing from the original Orléans in terms of complexity.
🎉 Two critical locations in the game are the festival grounds and the bell tower. The festival grounds offer a double-edged sword: They can trigger beneficial events but also limit where you can place a follower when other spaces are occupied. When a player places a tile in the bell tower, the round ends. Players must decide the optimal time to end the round, balancing the benefits of continuing to play against the advantages of resetting the board.
👶 Despite its straightforward nature, The Cathedral of Orléans is not always an easy game to win. It’s more about managing what’s in your bag than building it, offering a different experience compared to the more complex ‘adult’ version of the game. This aspect makes it a fantastic introduction for kids to the Orléans series, thanks to its familiar elements and simpler gameplay.
💭 While The Cathedral of Orléans might lack the deep strategy and hidden layers found in more complex board games, it shines as a family cooperative game. Its reliance on the luck of the draw and bag-management mechanics makes it an engaging and enjoyable experience, particularly for younger players or those new to the world of board games.
📝 Disclaimer: We received a review copy of the game from the publisher, dlp games.
