Splendor Review: The simplest engine builder board game

In a game of Splendor, you are racing to be the first player to reach 15 prestige points by buying development cards. If you collect enough development cards, you may be able to attract a noble, scoring you extra prestige points. What makes Splendor such a unique game is each development card will provide discounts on future cards. This creates an interesting balance between buying cheap cards to get discounts or expensive cards to boost your prestige.

How to Play Splendor

In Splendor, you are racing to be the first player to reach 15 prestige points. You earn prestige by purchasing development cards, gaining the prestige points in the upper left corner. Development cards can be purchased with a combination of gems.

There are 5 different gems: black, blue, green, red, and white. Acquiring these gems is the essence of Splendor. You can gather these gems in two ways. The first is to pick 3 gems of different colors, or if there are more than 3 gems of a given color, you can gather 2 gems of that color.

While this alone is interesting, you are also limited on the number of gems you can collect. The first restriction is that you may have up to 10 gems at a time, so you have to try to save up for the card you want while making sure not to run out of room for more gems. The second restriction is a limited amount of gems making it nearly impossible to get 4 of the same color gems without a plan.

At the game’s beginning, you focus on gathering the lower-value development cards. Because cards don’t just give points but also they provide permanent gem bonuses. Each card has a specific gem color in its upper-right corner. You can use the gem bonus for every future purchase you make instead of a gem token. Making all future costs cheaper, allowing you to purchase more powerful cards.

Sometimes there may be a card you want, but you can’t afford it. In this case, you can take the reserve action, allowing you to reserve a card from the board and place it in your hand. In addition to reserving a card, you may also take one wild gold token, which can be used in the place of any other gem. While you can only have up to 3 cards in your hand, this can be a powerful action to get a card that someone else might want or the wild gold token.

Development cards are not the only way to score points. You can also attract nobles. Each noble has its criteria, and if your Development cards fit those criteria, you can claim that noble for an extra 3 points.

Pros

Splendor is one of the simplest engine builders on the market because it replaces most engine builders’ complex, unique text with simple discounts. This keeps the depth on par with larger engine builders such as wingspan or terraforming mars. At the same time, keeping it simple and quick enough for the whole family to enjoy.

Splendor is not just a great game regarding its mechanics. It also shines in its components. Its tokens are made of high-quality plastic. While it may not seem like a big deal, it makes every turn a bit more satisfying, adding to the experience.

The economy in this game is where this game shines. Should you get the most chips for a turn and get three different gems? Should you double down on what’s essential by getting 2 of the same gem? If my opponent wants red gems, should I secure them before they are all gone or wait until my opponent has spent them? All these questions make each turn important and exciting.

Splendor takes only 30 minutes to play. Making it a great game to play when you don’t have a lot of time. It also can be played multiple times in a row during longer sessions.

This game is a great game to show your friends who don’t enjoy modern board games because it’s simple to learn, fast, and gives a taste of what modern board games have to offer. It is also incredibly satisfying to make a big purchase with all your discounts.

Cons

This game has many different strategies. While your opponent can sabotage your next turn, they can never change your strategy. This can make games of Splendor repetitive over time if you don’t actively transform your strategy.

While this game promises to immerse you in the world of gem trading, the theme can fall flat as you don’t feel like a gem merchant but a person trying to get more discounts. While this doesn’t slow the game, it feels hollow to those who expect an immersive experience.

This game can be frustrating if you don’t get the right balance of cards. If you go only for nobles, you may get only 1 or even none before the game ends. On the other hand, if you buy too many expensive cards too early, you may not have the discounts the other players have in the late game, causing you to fall behind. This makes it slightly frustrating to find a good strategy for new players.

Splendor’s Accessibility

Color Blind: While different colored tokens are used, they all have unique shapes making it easy to tell them apart.

Reading: No reading is necessary to play this game.

Children: No questionable topics in this game.

Who would love Splendor?

Splendor is the perfect game for those who enjoy playing engine-building games but don’t want the burden of memorizing and explaining a lot of rules. Someone who loves playing with people who are new to board games. One prioritizes a game’s mechanics and simplicity over its ability to immerse.

Final Thoughts

Splendor is an excellent game because its simplicity and time make it always a great game to take off of the shelf. It is an excellent game that both gamers and non-gamers alike will enjoy. If you want a game that immerses you in the time of the Renaissance, don’t buy this game. However, if you want a deceivingly simple strategy game that will entertain a wide range of friends and family, Splendor is for you. This game can bridge gaps and bring people together in a way many other games struggle.

If you would like to purchase Splendor and support Tabletop Game Source, you can purchase it from Amazon here.

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