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The 16th century was an exciting time for anyone with a thirst for knowledge. Scientists were beginning to challenge old ideas, and astronomers turned their telescopes toward the heavens to uncover the secrets of the stars. In Galileo Galilei, you’ll step into the shoes of these daring minds, exploring the mysteries of the universe while carefully navigating the dangerous line between discovery and heresy. The Church is watching, and science isn’t exactly seen as harmless curiosity. Do you have what it takes to explore the cosmos without drawing too much attention to yourself?
👥 1-4 players, ages 13+
⌛ Playing time: 60+ minutes
📝 Designer: Tomáš Holek
🎨 Artwork: Michal Peichl
🏢 Publisher: Pink Troubadour (discounted review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
In Galileo Galilei, the game takes place over a series of rounds, leading up to the placement of the final discovery card on the main board. When that happens, it triggers the last round, and each player gets one final turn before the game concludes. Every turn begins with moving your telescope one to three spaces along its path. Wherever you choose to land, you’ll perform two actions. One is fixed, while the other comes from a rotating tile. After you use the tile action, the tile shifts, opening up new combinations for your next turn.
The fixed actions are where a lot of the decision-making happens. You might gather observation dice to study constellations and celestial objects or spot comets to reduce the cost of future observations by moving them from your board to the main one. Feeling academic? You can give lectures to advance your tokens along the university track, unlocking rewards and endgame scoring potential. If you’re looking to supercharge your strategy, upgrading your action tokens is a smart move. These upgrades make your actions stronger and more flexible, letting you do things like improve your observation dice, collect quadrant tokens, write in your library, or even deal with inquisitors hanging out in your cellar.
Speaking of your library, this is where your discoveries really come together. Every time you observe a discovery card, it’s added to your personal library. These cards form rows, and when you advance on these rows, you unlock rewards that can help you in the university, earn points, strengthen your observation dice, or manage those pesky inquisitors. Planning ahead to create satisfying combos here can really give you an edge.
Quadrant tokens are another important resource you’ll need to manage carefully. They allow you to perform free actions, such as gaining extra dice, spotting comets, or moving inquisitors. They might not seem like much at first, but they can make all the difference when you’re in a pinch or setting up a big move for the next turn.
Victory points are the ultimate goal. Completing university objectives scores points and even lets you remove inquisitors from your cellar, saving you from potential penalties. Inquisitors show up as a result of your bold scientific moves, but with some clever thinking, you can manage them, or even turn their presence to your advantage. Once you’ve taken all your actions for the turn, the action tile rotates, giving you fresh options to plan around for your next move.
When the final discovery card appears, the game enters its last round. Each player gets one more chance to boost their score before the final tally. Points come from your progress on the university track, reputation tokens, and more, but any inquisitors left in your cellar will chip away at your score. The player with the most points at the end is declared the winner and earns the title of the most brilliant astronomer of the age.
Game Info
Galileo Galilei is a Euro-style board game designed by Tomáš Holek, whose name might ring a bell if you’ve played SETI or Tea Garden. It’s published by the relatively new Czech company Pink Troubadour, which launched its first titles just last year. The game is designed for 1-4 players, recommended for ages 13 and up. The playtime, as the box suggests, is 60 minutes or more, but in practice, it’s around 30 minutes per player. The speed depends a lot on the number of players and how well everyone knows the game, as there’s definitely a learning curve. Your first play might take a bit longer as you get familiar with the mechanics, but once you’re in the groove, the pace picks up nicely.
Components, Production, and Artwork
Let’s start with the components. There are quite a few, but the setup is straightforward enough once you’ve done it a couple of times. The game includes a large central board and individual player boards, where your telescope becomes the heart of the action. A big part of the game revolves around the discovery cards. There are 33 included, though you won’t use them all in every game. How many you play with depends on the number of players, as they double as the game’s timer and trigger for the final round.
The artwork by Michal Peichl deserves a special mention. The illustrations on the discovery cards are stunning, and the box cover practically whispers, “Explore me!” The components are easy to understand thanks to intuitive iconography, which is always a relief in a game with this level of depth.
The game includes wooden dice in three colors, sturdy cardboard tiles, and player-specific components that are screen-printed for a nice touch of polish. Each player also gets an astronomer, and if you’re playing in advanced mode, these astronomers come with unique special abilities, adding a bit of asymmetry to the gameplay. The production quality is solid overall. It may not be the flashiest game on your shelf, but it’s functional, well-made, and fits the theme perfectly. Plus, the classic beige aesthetic gives it that quintessential Eurogame vibe, which we can’t help but appreciate.
Gameplay and Mechanics
At its core, Galileo Galilei is a modern Eurogame that combines several familiar mechanics into a cohesive and satisfying experience. If there’s one thing that makes this game shine, it’s the action selection system. Moving your telescope to choose from five action combinations is simple but offers plenty of decision space, especially as you upgrade your actions throughout the game.
During the game, you’ll be collecting cards that represent planets and star systems, along with observation dice in three colors to make discoveries. The higher-value cards require more dice to observe but offer greater rewards in terms of points and bonuses. However, there’s a catch, as these cards also tend to attract inquisitors, which can complicate your plans if you’re not careful.
Balancing progress and keeping those pesky inquisitors under control is a big part of the game. As you make bold discoveries, inquisitors might show up in your cellar, threatening your reputation. To remove them, you’ll need to move them through a series of cells, which triggers interrogations and can lower your standing. It’s a bit of a balancing act, but with clever planning, you can minimize their impact or even turn their presence to your advantage.
The game isn’t about sticking to one path; it’s about making the most of every turn and finding the right combos to keep you ahead. The university track is great for unlocking bonuses and racking up points during the endgame, while discovery cards let you build a library full of useful rewards by using observation dice and quadrant tokens. Then there are the inquisitors, who can cause trouble if you let them pile up, but with smart planning, you can minimize their impact or even turn the situation to your advantage. Instead of focusing on just one area, it’s important to stay flexible, adapt to the rotating action tiles, and piece together a mix of strategies that work well together.
Final Thoughts
The theme is what first drew us to Galileo Galilei. There’s something irresistible about the idea of exploring a starry sky and uncovering the secrets of the universe. The action selection system ties the theme together beautifully, mirroring the way the stars appear to shift and move in the night sky.
One of our favorite aspects of the game is how everything comes together. Writing in your library to unlock bonuses feels satisfying, and there’s a great sense of accomplishment when you pull off a clever combo. The mechanics aren’t revolutionary, but they’re challenging enough to keep you engaged.
So, is Galileo Galilei for you? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy planning several steps ahead and making tough decisions, Galileo Galilei has plenty to offer. While it doesn’t introduce groundbreaking mechanics, it combines familiar ones in a way that feels fresh and satisfying. The theme shines through the gameplay, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of thoughtful Eurogames. Just remember, while gazing at the stars, don’t let those inquisitors get too cozy in your cellar. They’re not exactly the ideal houseguests.
📝 We received a discounted review copy of the game from the publisher, Pink Troubadour.
