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Ready to prove you’re the fiercest Viking clan in the fjords? In Looot, you’ll gather resources, construct mighty buildings, and fill your longships with riches to become the most powerful and respected clan. Only one can claim the title of Jarl of the Vikings. Will it be you? Let the race for glory begin!
👥 2-4 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 35 minutes
📝 Designers: Charles Chevallier & Laurent Escoffier
🎨 Artwork: Naïade
🏢 Publisher: Gigamic (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
Looot is a game of clever planning and tactical resource placement, played in continuous turns until all players have placed their 13 Vikings on the main board. Each turn, you’ll position one of your Vikings on a space that’s either next to a starting area or next to another Viking; any Viking, not just your own! Wherever you place your Viking, you’ll claim the corresponding resource and put it on an empty space in your fjord.
If your placement meets the requirements for one of the buildings displayed on the main board (like houses, watchtowers, or castles), congratulations! You’ve just earned yourself that building. Place it onto your fjord as well; it’ll come in handy for fulfilling your construction goals. Speaking of goals, each player starts with a set of building sites on their fjord, and completing them is a surefire way to earn points. Surround a site or longship with the right mix of resources and buildings, and you’ll flip the tile to reveal the bonus it grants. Satisfying, isn’t it?
At the end of your turn, you can select a new longship from the display to work towards. But beware: unfinished longships will cost you points at the end of the game. Pick your goals carefully!
Feeling ambitious? You’ve got two optional actions to shake things up. First, you can use a shield, which gives you special abilities like placing an extra Viking, doubling the resources you gain, or even snagging a spot already occupied by another Viking. The second optional action lets you claim trophies. Collect enough axes during your game, and you can grab a trophy for some sweet extra points.
When everyone has placed their last Viking, it’s time to tally the scores. Add up the point value of each resource and building on your fjord board, as well as bonuses from completed longships, construction sites, and trophies. Don’t forget to subtract those pesky unfinished longships; they can make or break your victory! The player with the most points earns the ultimate bragging rights: the title of Jarl of the Vikings.
Game Info
Looot is a family-friendly game created by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier. It is published by Gigamic, a well-established name in the board game world, known for their high-quality and diverse titles. This one is designed for two to four players and takes about 35 minutes to play, which is perfect for a game night where you want something lighter but still fun. The box says it’s for ages 10 and up, but honestly, if your younger kids (say, 8 and up) are familiar with games, they’ll likely have no trouble jumping in. After all, if they can imagine themselves as Vikings, they are halfway there.
Components, Production, and Artwork
Let’s talk about what’s inside the box. First up, there are the boards: four double-sided landscape boards for a modular setup, along with an ocean board and a trophy board. These set the stage for your Viking adventures. The game pieces include hexagonal tiles for buildings, construction sites, trophies, resources, and longships, all made of sturdy cardboard that feels durable
Each player gets their own fjord board, made from thick paper, along with a set of colorful Viking meeples and shields to plot their conquests. There’s even a drawstring bag for refilling longships during the game, making reaching in to grab pieces oddly satisfying. And when it’s time to wrap up, there’s a scorepad to tally the final results (because even Vikings need some bookkeeping).
The artwork, created by Naïade, is as Viking as it gets. It is bold, atmospheric, and full of charm. The design not only looks good but is also incredibly functional. The symbols and icons are clear and easy to understand, so you’ll spend more time strategizing and less time deciphering. Overall, the components feel like they deliver solid value for the price.
Gameplay and Strategic Depth
If you’re looking for a game that’s easy to learn but still offers plenty of room for strategy, Looot has you covered. The rules are simple enough to explain in just a few minutes, which is great when you’re introducing it to new players. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity; there’s a lot going on under the hood.
Every turn, you’ll place one of your Vikings on the main board to gather resources and maybe claim a building. Then, you’ll place those resources and buildings on your fjord board to work toward completing construction sites or fulfilling the requirements of longships. It all sounds straightforward, but there’s a lot to think about. Where you place your Vikings matters because it dictates what you can claim, and how you arrange your resources and buildings on your fjord board can make or break your strategy.
Longships bring an element of risk and reward. Each ship gives you a specific goal, but there’s a catch. If you don’t finish it, you’ll lose points. Do you go for more rewards and risk coming up short, or play it safe with fewer ships? Either way, it keeps things exciting.
A Battle on the Main Board
At first, it might seem like the game is all about quietly puzzling away on your fjord board, but the real action happens on the main board. This is where players compete for castles, watchtowers, and houses by placing their Vikings in chains or strategic formations. It’s a bit of a tug-of-war as you try to grab what you need while blocking your opponents’ plans.
Of course, no Viking battle would be complete without a little trickery. That’s where the shields come in. One shield lets you place a Viking on a space that’s already occupied, which can be a lifesaver when someone’s blocked your route. It’s moments like these that keep the game dynamic and full of surprises.
Dynamic Setup and Scaling
One of the things that makes Looot so replayable is its modular setup. The main board changes depending on the number of players, and the mix of resources and longships is different every time. Each game feels fresh, challenging players to adapt their strategies to new setups and resource distributions. It scales beautifully too, so whether you’re playing with two people or a full group, the balance and pacing feel just right.
Final Thoughts
While the puzzle-like aspect of arranging resources on your fjord board is a lot of fun, it’s the back-and-forth competition on the main board that really stands out. The challenge of claiming buildings and maneuvering around opponents keeps things so engaging that you’ll find yourself wanting a rematch before the game’s even over.
Looot manages to keep things simple and fun for new players while giving experienced gamers enough meat on the bone to sink their teeth into. It’s the kind of game that works well for a mixed group, whether you’re playing with your family, friends, or a mix of both. The decisions are meaningful, the competition is just the right amount of cutthroat, and it’s all wrapped up in a charming Viking theme. If you’re looking for a game that’s fun, approachable, and just a little bit sneaky, this one deserves a home on your shelf.
📝 We received a review copy of Looot from Gigamic.
