The Last Kingdom Board Game Review - GOTY?

[@saviloic]

Wow, would have never thought much of this game without your review because of that IP and picture on the box. Actually seems like a super intense gaming experience, if time allows

[@BoardGameBollocks]

It’s been criticised for the screen grabs but it makes the game better in my opinion.

[@maxryan2023]

Agree, the box art completed turn me off the game. If it wasn't for your review I wouldn't even be looking at it

[@chadvader974]

I thought that about Spartacus, but after that I never judge a book by its cover.

[@iannicholson5107]

That was a very useful review. Without being overly twee thanks for mentioning the aesthetic. We play these games as you say and have to look at the board. The first adult game I played, and no we're not going there, was 1914, a very old Avalon Hill title. For the time unusually mounted, we're still not going there, board. It was drop dead gorgeous. Yeah we can go there. Appreciate your site.

[@brotherhorus4316]

This is one of our favourite games of all time. Great review.

[@meenki347]

Great to see that you're still keeping up the suede head aesthetic. I didn't bother to mention the Fred Perry you had before. But I definitely saw it. West Ham ⚒

[@fastpoose]

Nice work big man! Just played Concordia tonight for the first time with the board game group. Amazing game, but sheesh never again at 5 players....

[@th3cha1rmak3r]

You know, out of all of the IP's, I'm glad that this one made it. England as a positive force, accurate portrayal of brutality and show that is better than GoT in every way (especially ending). I fucking hate stills but man, you made my day with this review. Me and my wife loved the show, this will be a hit on the table. Destiny is all...

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@salsabuster]

Thank you so much! Thanks to you I tried it and love it. We completed our first game in 120min (4 players) so I would say the box (30min/player) is pretty accurate.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Almost made my game of the year for 2023 👍🏻

[@dougadamsau]

Intriguing. I love the books, and the TV adaptation was entertaining. But I have 878 Vikings and a four hour game … conflicted. Thanks for a great review.

[@henryrodriguez6260]

I had 878 too, but the mechanics in this game are more my speed.

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Mr. Clair can do no wrong. I've never watched the show but the fact that he designed this one makes me want to get it.

[@waitingforvirtue3080]

News from all the way at the back here, you got yourself a mention on Rahdo's weekly round up. It seemed odd watching Mr nice Rhado say BG bollocks "a foul mouthed geezer". A guest on the Dice Tower top 100 next?? That I'd pay to watch.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Yea I saw that. I’m surprised he likes my content. It’s a mad mad mad mad world.

[@onlyfoolsdontfear]

Hey, my dad told me same thing, now I'm trying to find the real one.. As for the game sounds like a mix of Blood Rage and maybe GoT? Will be testing today. Cheers!

[@primusinterpares5767]

This game is every good part of Pax Pamir, without a lot of the bad. Was suprised by how good this game is!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Tbf I didn’t see any of PP in this

[@ErmineskinCreelov]

I was intrigued up until the game length so thanks for that tho if I get the opportunity I might try it - with non ap types lol

[@adriang6259]

As a fan of the books and the show I'm interested....

[@st0ox]

Yeah, the IP thing is a bit strange right, because its not as famous as Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, but I am a huge fan of the TV series. I bet if the same game design would have been used for an original world building more people would have been interested in it. I also don't like the very simplistic look of the game board and in contrast to that the cards with pictures of the TV series. I think board games should habe a consistent graphics style which is also my main complain about the stock footage images in Terraforming Mars.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

The screen grabs work well here. Anchors the theme whereas TM didn’t really have that to latch onto

[@davidchumilla]

They should have branded the art and cover with an art style similar to inis while preserving the recognizable brand. It would have made the game stand for itself and attrack regular or casual players instead of make it look like a cheap Ip game.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

The screen grabs are fine with me. Done well here

[@axétério]

I gathered the same opinion from videos that you said from experience. I’m still gonna pass on purchasing the game and gonna crave to play the game for exactly everything you said I hope to eventually add a game like this to my collection when an aesthetic matches my tastes. I watched a couple seasons of the show, it was good but didn’t engage me. Question, is that period of factual history “a thing”? (Pardon my ignorance)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Yes. The books follow what was written on the Saxon Chronicles and other texts.

[@henryrodriguez6260]

Loved the show. Excellent review, game purchased!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Congratulations. Superb game.

[@octavus4858]

reminds me "King is Dead" boardgame. Although more atmospheric and bloated

[@kevinbabb7004]

With all the special abilities on the cards doesn't the game devolve into anarchy? I know of asymmetrical player power games built in on the front end like Chaos in the Old World. And those gathered during gameplay via drafting like Blood Rage. This looks like there's both? Or am I misunderstanding?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

No. because you only get one hand per round you can only really play one maybe two per region. It’s a great but agonising choice

[@chrisperrien7055]

OK Somerset. I will take your word for it, that this is a good "war" game compared to most modern euro-trash games. I suggest reviewing " Wizard's Quest" by AH. Try that game, with friends ,if you have not. 😎. Its a great game and copies are very cheap

[@TyvanTV]

Fucking sold me!

[@nib71286]

I got notified 5 hrs after the posting 🤬 where can I get a prenotification bc google and youtube is complete s🤬? This looks great but why is it not as good as Cyclades?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Wait for my Top 100 in December.

[@nib71286]

@@BoardGameBollocks I hope you are able to squeeze out Rise of Fenris before December - even if its solo vs the automata 😂 but seriously... 😜

[@FarkyJ]

this is a hard game to get....one copy just landed on a shelf of my one retailers....bought it right away....game just around my alley

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Congratulations

[@_The_Rake]

Argh...I love the books and thought the show was fantastic but I passed on the Kickstarter and just thought the game would be decent. A lot of people have been giving it high praise and now I'm torn on picking it up. That playtime is the biggest issue. Do you think the game is still good at two players?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Yes it’s fine

[@christaggart5687]

I do D Clair!!

[@SimplicitySingularity]

I like the show, so thanks for the review.

[@craigandrews7544]

#6 all time!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Great game. John D Clair is churning out some bangers

[@petermillen6924]

I studied the history, I read the books (but passed on the TV series), and own and enjoy Academy Games 878 Vikings Invasion of England. I dunno about this.. 18 plastic miniature seems a function of the Kick$hitter marketing rather than a need for individual game pawns and would add to my painting queue (I don't like playing with plastic until I've painted it, you couldnt guess how long it took me to get War of the Ring to the table). Other graphics look mediocre - don't much like use of screenshots. I will keep a watch. I suspect it will do well.

[@timjones990]

As a general rule I don’t even look at games with movie or TV stills as the art work, so I have not looked at this until your review, still game time is a no I think.

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

It's generally a good idea for a review to say what the official number of players can be and which of those options works well and which not. Aside from the 5 player time comment, I still have no idea.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Could do some research. As I said I’m not your dad…

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

@@BoardGameBollocks Like wow man. It's a frigging review.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

An astute observation

[@SteveMurphyShark]

Hahaha

[@Sin4Profit]

Is this not just an extended version of The King is Dead? or is there enough to it to make the added length worth it?

[@VeeeeryyyFaaaastSlooooth]

It's always nice when a game transcends its crappy cheap art design by sheer quality of gameplay. It's like an inverse of usual KS bullcrap. I'd probably love thi game, same as I got to love Dune Diplomacy & Conquest even though its art direction is also super cheap.

[@JonTripp115]

Seems like everyone who has actually played this agrees that it looks like shit, but is actually great.

[@koakley6116]

It looks awful. If you want to play a good area control game that covers the same historical period I recommend 878 Vikings or Britannia.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

878 is 100 years before so hardly the same period.

[@koakley6116]

@@BoardGameBollocks it's still Dark Age Britain though isn't it? Near enough.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

@koakley6116 Actually it’s not. There’s no such thing as the dark ages.

[@koakley6116]

@@BoardGameBollocks okay Early Middle Age Britain then.

[@BritishBulldog78]

Destiny is a woman's name

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Only on a council estate