Lost Ruins of Arnak Review - A Jewel in the Jungle

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Lost Ruins of Arnak is a deck building worker placement game from CGE and it's amazing. Gorgeous artwork, a luscious and vibrant jungle, and a tough system of actions to constantly maneuver to get more out of every single turn...there's a lot to like here and like it I do.
TimeStamps:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:34 - Gameplay Overview
0:03:45 - What I Liked
0:10:46 - What I Didn't Like
0:13:46 - What I Can See Others Not Liking
0:15:28 - Final Thoughts
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[@ScytheNoire]

Every review of this game has been glowing. Surprised it's a retail game, way above what you typically find.

[@BoardGameCo]

It's really solid, loving it so far.

[@Duxa_]

This has really changed over the last year. BGG has lots of sour reviews in the forum Reviews section.

[@spaztekwarrior]

I Like your enthusiasm for this game and its components. I think this game is great and has tremendous value for what you get for the money in terms of quality and sheer quantity of components. Not too many reviewers mention this.

[@voyager5333]

I just played my first game of Arnak. What a great, beautiful game! When the last round started I felt I was way behind, not even halfway the research track, but what a last round that was! Each move triggered another, and I played through all my entire deck, and moved up the rest of the track even buying the top tablet.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yes! That last round can be fairly insane :)

[@paulvilagos7008]

I have managed to get at the top of the research track on the bird side of the board with my magnf glass and near the top with my journal in a 2-player game, it didn't feel that hard, but I would say I got lucky with the pidgeon item and some other explored areas, so it is def achievable...however I do get where some people are coming from when they say "What about another, 6th round"...really cool and loveable game, def recommend it. Keep up the good job :)

[@DrFrige]

Great review! Just got to play it at Strategicon and bought it immediately after. It's Champions of Midgard meets Clank. Going to teach it at our next game night

[@thomasvanh9578]

Wauw Alex. Love that enthousiasm! Backed endless winter and will add tnis one too. What else xo you expect when deckbuilding a d worker placement are the favourite mechanism of me and my wife...

[@BoardGameCo]

Dune review coming soon :) Then a comparison video after :)

[@jean-christophecoppeau7565]

I have dropped quickly on endless winter but have great expectations on this one; it ties everything together where EW felt more disconnected from each of it’s play area Thanks, nice review 👍

[@BoardGameCo]

Thanks :) Both are solid...if you do like this, give EW another look...lots of overlap here.

[@ericmatteau9954]

Thanks a lot for the review Alex. ^^

[@BoardGameCo]

Always :)

[@aSyphodias]

This game gives me an everdell (which I adore) vibe of trying to squeeze out as many actions as you can during your turn. Minus the tableau building plus the deck building.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, all these are amazing.

[@fbbf2932]

I recently started playing Lost Ruins of Arnak. Now I have two expansions for this game. After playing this game, I think it's one of the best board games. It is well made - solid elements, has wonderful colorful graphics, lots of mechanics (building a deck of cards, buying cards, collecting and exchanging raw materials, moving in several ways, conducting research, discovering excavation sites and much more). The game creates a very nice competition with other players for everything (cards, money, research, etc.). Playing Arnak also doesn't take much time, so it doesn't tire players. The only (but very, very small) disadvantage that I could almost forcefully come up with for this game is that it takes up some space on the table. Close to perfect, really. I recommend.

[@wsiegel9539]

I can't wait to get this to the table. This was my choice over Endless Winter. I do hope to pick up Endless Winter later, but this one moved me right away. The solo game seemed fantastic also. Thanks.

[@BoardGameCo]

Haven't played the solo yet but I imagine it would be fun :)

[@JacobPorterLadder]

I can't wait to get this. It looks beautiful and I prefer this to Endless winter, which felt messier and not all of the modules I really cared for.

[@aSyphodias]

Same, EW I like in concept but the fact that the worker placements are specific actions instead of ressources you can use for multiple things like in Arnak does not seem as interesting to me. And yeah modules/expansions overload for EW.

[@tonybowers9490]

Same here. To me, some aspects of EW seemed tacked on. Too much point salad. LRoA seem to be a bit of a point salad as well, but not as much so.

[@BoardGameCo]

Totally hear on all counts...EW is "messier" but I like the overall engine better.

[@DapperDano]

I’m getting both

[@JacobPorterLadder]

@@DapperDano I wish I could afford both. I'll still be looking at EW at retail.

[@LeeKenshin7]

I got Dune: Imperium for the player interaction, LRoA for the theme, and Endless Winter for the KS goodness. All 3 for the deck-building/WP mash-up.

[@BoardGameCo]

That is a 100% assemment of everything :) I have a review coming comparing all 3 eventually.

[@justinsantiago4160]

I'd argue a guardians expansion would be a nice fresh-off-the block addition. Another concept that would have been cool is a secret card shop unlocked/triggered by defeating or encountering "x", maybe in a future expansion? This game definitely has incredible potential, great review Alex!

[@BoardGameCo]

Oohhh, I like that idea too!

Great review, as always! Congrats! Can you tell us which sleeves are you using for the cards of this game? Looks like fits perfectly! Thanks!

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep :) Sleeve kings :)

[@user-tp7ef6rw4l]

Amazing game! Can't wait to get my hands on it))

[@BoardGameCo]

Yes :)

[@ailurusludens1342]

Played it yesterday for the first time. It doesn't do anything innovative, but what it does, it does extremely well. Loved it!

[@patcon314]

Even if you only use an item card a few times (or even never if you buy in turn 4 or 5) it will get you points at the end. The artifacts get used as soon as you buy them, but then you might not use them again (if you get them in turn 4 or 5) and if you do want to use their benefit you have to pay a tablet. That makes the purchasing of items or artifacts a tough decision, and a good feature. The choices you have to make are tough.

[@Gtomer]

Just played it online at BGG@home and had great fun. Was really hard to find a place that still got that game in stocks. Quack!

[@BoardGameCo]

Nice! It's so much fun!

[@joseg.6187]

I see the through the ages expansion in the back, nice, did you throw out all the replaced cards? Including all the military cards?

[@Keithslawinski]

Nice review. I really enjoy the game, but I am totally one of those players that wished there were more actions that churned your deck more frequently so you could push your engine a bit more. I remember finally building an awesome combo on round 4 only to draw my starting hand r5. Only 1 location had a +1 draw ability, so my last turn kinda petered out unless I was willing to use up my remaining idol slots which felt like a huge gamble (drawing 3 cards for -7 VP). I like 5 rounds, but if I could average 1-3 more cards during the 4th-5th rounds it would satisfy my deckbuilding itch. (I might homebrew placing any +card tiles on empty research tracks, or maybe you can "exaust" a meeple to draw a card, but their future travel cost/range is affected. Would need to test it)

[@ScoobyNoobyNoob]

Was not even on my radar until now, wishlist!

[@ticutucu]

Please, really hoping that you make a comparison between endless winter and Lost ruins... it would be great!!!

[@BoardGameCo]

I plan on :)

[@patcon314]

An engine builder, which this is, should give you that "one more turn please" vibe. It also forces you to make choices. If you could do everything the game would become more "samey".

[@ntmetroid]

FINALLY found a copy of this game. Just had to go on a vacation 12 hours away to actually find it in a store 😅

[@BoardGameCo]

Lol well at least you got it :)

[@johnpanagos5835]

Dune imperium next

[@BoardGameCo]

Played it today....full review and then a comparison video coming up :)

[@mylor1066]

@@BoardGameCo love Dune theme and original game and off the back of DT 4-way glowing review I pre ordered already! Looking firward to hearing your thoughts Alex (and da quack? Did he play it too?)

[@TheLuminousCleric]

Alex is truly a prophet of our time. As of October 27th, 2021, Lost Ruins of Arnak is 42nd on BGG, and an expansion is available (Expedition Leaders)

[@BoardGameCo]

There are a bunch of games that I really like, but some of those have the overlap of obviously being a game that many others will love to. Arnak it's one of those games with beautiful art, wide appeal, and one of the few games that not only did I love, but I said would be in the top 100.

[@TheLuminousCleric]

@@BoardGameCo "But I said would be in the top 100." All hail the boardgame messiah!

[@quvadisjean]

Looks like a huge table hog !!! Reminds me a bit of el dorado in a way because of theme and card drafting I guess :)

[@johnpanagos5835]

You mean deck building :-)

[@BoardGameCo]

It's not that bad, this is my smaller table.

[@quvadisjean]

@@johnpanagos5835 Yup.. thats what happens when you type while in the middle of night

[@Richard-sy1ej]

I'll be interested to see the inevitable matchup video against EW. I still wasn't sold on EW, but I think it'll be on my list to keep an eye out for after it is released. I think this one might fall into a similar category for me, but the art theming/aesthetics appeal to me a lot more than EW, so it's probably higher on the list at the moment.

[@BoardGameCo]

I have a mash up coming for all 3 games :)

[@kobusbrits3523]

@@BoardGameCo oooh, when can we expect that?

[@BoardGameCo]

@@kobusbrits3523 Hopefully next week :)

[@Carsten_de_1981]

Cool resources - in a retail game - but a very pricey retail game. Praga Caput Regni is only 2/3 the price for example. ;) I picked EW over this as Arnak seemed to be a resource conversion game mostly with elements of luck with the tile discovery which can be super helpful or end you up with a stupid fear card and someone else getting the 5 VP. And with Dune Imperium coming which shows a little more player interaction - I decided that 2 deck building worker placement games shall be enough for now.

[@BoardGameCo]

Fair point on price point. I have a full video of the 3 games to compare soon.

[@Carsten_de_1981]

@@BoardGameCo looking forward to it. Already sold on EW. Pretty positive on DI. Arnak needs some more convincing. My wallet says it is on to go only for 66%.

[@twinkle04evr]

Thank you Alex, as far as replay value, will this better than Clank?

[@DanRoberts44]

Is it Lost Ruins of Winter? or...... Endless Arnak? I had chucked this to the side, but you have convinced me to watch some playthroughs. :)

[@BoardGameCo]

It's solidly fun :)

[@patriziopastore9895]

I feel that endless winter is more completed as it is now but of course... I need to play endless winter to be sure ;)

[@BoardGameCo]

Both are great :)

[@Brimah314]

Alex called it, in the top 100!

[@BoardGameCo]

Nice! Well deserved. Now lets hope I'm right about Endless Winter :)

[@Allanq69]

Does anyone knows when will it be release?

[@BoardGameCo]

It's on pre-order now, should be shipping soon.

[@johnpanagos5835]

Actually some guardians give in game benefits :-) The guardian you had in your hand was giving jeep movement.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yes, but isn't it cashed in once and then done? I mean ongoing, the movement icons are very limited.

[@johnpanagos5835]

@@BoardGameCo i think the guardians once you defeat them, you can use them, more than once. Not sure though.

[@kobusbrits3523]

Any idea how this would play at 2p? How about EW at 2p?

[@BoardGameCo]

Both are great at 2!

[@SamuraiFantana]

I was so hungry to get this game. Went through a couple of struggles and mishaps, but finally added it Saturday and played it yesterday. Such a good game. I didn't maximize my first two rounds as I learnt the game, but the final two rounds were long chaining move after love. We also found the research track was only half used. I went in on Guardians, taming three. My only complaint is the lack of insert. Playing again tonight.

[@007Kiristo]

We played it three times, but it never felt amazing to either my wife or I, so I sold it. Fortunately, it's very popular with everyone else (and currently sold out most places), so I was able to easily get my money back in reselling it. The game has a lot of stuff to do, but it just feels like it's all about the research track and ultimately that wasn't exciting for me.

[@saravanandilip7907]

You are correct. The only strategy I see to win is do the research track stuff. Just move up the track. All other strategies like more exploration, more-defeating monsters, more item collection, more resource collection- nothing helps.

[@MystiqWisdom]

Seems better than Endless Winter simply because you're not paying a big KS premium and they're close enough.

[@BoardGameCo]

I totally hear that. I think both are amazing, and retail to retail might be equitable. The Kickstarter came with a lot of extras but also cost more.

[@tonybowers9490]

Haven't played this or EW, but I THINK I would enjoy LRofA more.

[@BoardGameCo]

Not arguing, but curious what about the two makes you think that?

[@tonybowers9490]

@@BoardGameCo Good question. (I don't consider it arguing. He He) I know these are just games and not necessarily meant to reflect real events, the real world, physics, logic. But, a game 'clicks' more with me if there is a certain amount of realism in the game. It lets me 'imagine' better and 'play a role' better. The map side game and animal set collection aspects in EW do fit, but I think you could add aspects like that to any game. Something like - well we're finished with the game, but let's add a mini map and set collection to make it even better. I believe the really good games have aspects/mechanisms applied the Goldilocks amount. Some games have so many aspects, and some of them fidgety, to the point of too much. Some games are found lacking due to simplicity. Of course, what may be considered too much (or not enough) to one person may be the opposite to others. I haven't played EW, so my opinion counts for very little, but to me the mechanisms seemed to be too much, too tacked on, and not adding much value. Sorry, I think I'm rambling. :-) My apology. I'll shut up now.

[@AaronAndSusie]

I ended up backing Endless Winter and my buddy picked this one up so our bases are covered !

[@BoardGameCo]

Nice!

[@Forza1988]

Which website is selling it? All I’m seeing are preorders

[@AaronAndSusie]

@@Forza1988He preordered

[@garettsuperloser804]

Is only 5 rounds enough time to appreciate everything going on there?

[@BoardGameCo]

Two answers. The first answer is no... But you can add a sixth round without changing anything so no big deal. Second answer is yes... I haven't yet bothered adding another round, I just kind of want to. five rounds has been immensely satisfying every time... I just want it to be more satisfying.

[@lotterwinner6474]

I'm not sure why we got another video dedicated to Endless Winter /s

[@BoardGameCo]

Lol solid

[@augustjologs1]

5 rounds is perfect for me, adding more would make the game longer, especially at 3 or 4 players, especially during the last rounds, when players get to do more things. Guardians having continuing bonuses would push this game more towards engine building and less of exploration, and more towards wanting to make this game longer, which is not good for me.

[@MaVarcon]

You probably knew this question was coming, but anyway...does this have variable player powers? ;-P

[@BoardGameCo]

Lol no :)

[@MaVarcon]

Hm, that's what I suspected...then again, I don't remember if there were some in Endless Winter either! :o Thanks!

[@DanRoberts44]

Did you just say Mage Knight? ok, .........I'm listening. :)

[@BoardGameCo]

Very different games... Small similarities :)

[@ilqrd.6608]

Is there anything about this gam that stands out? Other than the visuals and how it combines different game mechanics? I don't disagree, it looks solid but why would I play this over other games? My few games of this really just didn't create any kind of emotional reactions at all during play. Yes, there are many paths you can take and yes it all works well but there are no highs, no lows. It's okay. Forgotten the moment you pack it away. And that simply doesn't cut when you have a kick ass collection of games on the shelf that can actually create a "wow" factor.

[@BoardGameCo]

I generally love games where I feel like I can keep doing a little bit more, and a little bit more. Combine that with gorgeous visuals, a solid playtime... And I'm just really enjoying this.

[@DicepairGames]

Happy seeing long reviews. Makes me feel good about mine 😣. Not trying to self promote, just being totally honest. Besides, my content is in spanish 😅. Glad you liked it, I did as well 😌.

[@TheErnieforss]

Man, all my favorite board games channels are reviewing this game. I wonder why? Was this a kickstarter game, or a game from a big company? Just seems really odd everyone is reviewing this game for no reason.

[@BoardGameCo]

It's just released and CGE has been sending it to most reviewers. With no cons these days, big releases just go to everyone to review to create buzz.

[@TheErnieforss]

@@BoardGameCo it's working because now I want to try it out.

[@bilcorp1]

no kickstarter. direct retail sale. CGE is big game producer - Codemanes, Through the Ages, Alchemists, TZOLK´IN,...

[@bilcorp1]

@@BoardGameCo it is on market now in europe (preorders). we are waiting for delivery before christmas (first half of december, english version). other languages came couple months later - first half of 2021

[@theboardmasters5800]

Just as I was enjoying a little bit of time where there wasn't anything appealing to me...