Scythe Board Game Review - Still Worth It?

Join us as we take another look at the worker placement game Scythe published by Stonemaier Games.

[@brandonbiondo9208]

Just found this channel. I love this guy's energy. Way more relatable than many other review channels for me personally.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@p0lishsausage]

This guy's the boardgame youtuber equivelant of a Guy Richie movie.

[@SortOfBoardGames]

I still remember when a friend bought Scythe at GenCon in 2016. We had never heard of and could not understand what the game was. Then we played it, and played it and played it.

[@hamvaicsaba35]

Is Bollocks still worth your time bother today and in the future? Absolutely yes. The best board game channel, period.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Word up!

[@boggle_rocket]

The fact that there are people out there who know exactly the right combination of factions and order of actions to win in the most efficient way possible shows how by-the-numbers Scythe gameplay is.

[@sAKecOkE]

And those people play with a point bidding system or use expansion alternate win conditions or the modular board to have those combinations thrown off :)

[@tonybowers9490]

Thanks for sharing. Many great Scythe memories. One of the few games that I painted the miniatures.

[@Paul-ro6py]

As always, thanks for the review. Great overview of the turn options.

[@gaillardlionel]

This is still my favorite games since i started in the hobby around 2008... Still fresh, still exciting, an absolute masterpiece. And I have played hundreds of games... Also one of the rare big games I enjoy playing at 5 players. I didn't bother buying the legendary box because i love the art of the main box too much! Solid and satisfying mechanics, the combat is a great puzzle in my mind because you're always tempted to avoid it in order to maximize your power and possibly reach that objective on the power track, there's always this tension... plus you know that if you might win a combat but get weakened in the process and get attacked right after, the game feels like a delicate dance. I loved the campaign (Fenris). No game is for everyone and I have no problem with some people not clicking with it. It is true that some factions are easier to win with than others, but once you know them there are ways to counter them, and the beginning of the game doesn't feel slow to me because i'm trying to optimize many turns ahead to be in the race so it keeps my thinking, cozy in my starting den, then the second half of the game kicks in with all the mechs, and I'm on my toes the whole time trying to explore the map, epic...

[@arthursimsa9005]

No, there are no meaningful ways to counter the strongest factions/player mats/combinations of the two. The game doesn’t feature enough interaction for that.

[@gaillardlionel]

@@arthursimsa9005 I respectfully disagree

[@arthursimsa9005]

@@gaillardlionel arguments, then? It’s not like the game had enough interaction or a robust enough negotiation framework. « Respectfully disagreeing » without giving reasons is meaningless.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Tbf your original diatribe was devoid of specifics also…

[@gaillardlionel]

​@@arthursimsa9005 saying "the game doesn't have enough interactions or a robust enough negotiation framework" is also meaningless/devoid of specifics. Tough to put specifics in comments (takes time) so I don't blame you! -Negociation: you can trade coins at any point during the game. It's a seldom-used option, but it's in the rulebook. I never do it personally (don't like negociation in games). -Interactions: there are interactions in the game to counter, first by blocking critical spots on the map (go there first/attack them). For example, you want to prevent Rusviet from "Enlisting" by blocking their access to food on the right of their base, and you want to prevent Chrimea from accessing Encounter tokens. So the interaction here is mostly map control (with a bit of combat to attack Rusviet if they are already on their food supply space). The next obvious interaction mechanism is combat of course. At a higher level, you want to introduce a bidding mechanism (used in tournaments) to deduct points to players who bid for factions. I'm not at that level yet ;-)

[@Nwolf5555]

On the topic of plagiarism: Scythe openly borrowed from games that came out before it. The designer has discussed in particular how it used elements from Kemeth (action selection system) to create the system that Scythe uses (as well as other inspirations). Its one of the good things about the hobby in my opinion, ideas are shared, re used and rehashed rather then locked down with copyright. This is made even better when designers feel free to openly discuss inspirations from other games without fear of being labeled a copycat.

[@hanseathl]

I understand your negatives but for me this game is always a blast when it hits the table and i enjoy every minute of playtime - even the first slow rounds

[@24Nasorangmal]

Great review, thank you and cheers!

[@timjones990]

We enjoy a game of scythe, our base game is all painted with metal coins, realistic resources and the neoprene mat. I love setting it up, and it looks amazing on the table, at two player we don't get a lot of combat in as there isn't really a need for it at that count but the odd occasion we get a skirmish in. its not a bad combat system in my opinion, the use of valuable power makes you way up the benefits of kicking off and you never know what cards your opponent has. If the game was more combat focused it wouldn't work. still get a bit confused on some of the mech movements though lol.

[@Stvnyyj]

Nice review! Scythe was the game that got me really into the hobby. I love the efficiency puzzle it provides. Is it wrong that I don’t mind combat? I think the mind games involved with it can be fun (I’m going to crush my opponent so should I save on might and vice versa). I also think that when you get an experienced group the time for the first rounds shrinks drastically. Anyway thanks again for the content!

[@jackburtonstwin]

Agreed. Scythe was an epic trail-blazing effort by Stonemaier Games. It still looks fantastic and the artwork is among the very best I have seen employed on any game. There are few games that do it better even to this day and, like Twilight Imperium it has joined the immortals of gaming.

[@adriang6259]

Never played it but just got a copy. Actually can’t wait.

[@davidnegri1153]

Excelent video, i think the air ships is a way to acelerate the start of the game, because u can take your workers away in the firts moves

[@nib71286]

Fenris may or may not had quick start things, and combat things, and different game ending things. Worth checking out again in my humble opinion. Do you have house rule things for scythe as well?

[@EduFirenze]

I call the modern board game scene the zombicide syndrome, boxes and boxes of stuff that makes people rush to buy but won't ever play

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Indeed. It’s sad.

[@theshogunstein6475]

Good video!

[@jamielehn6926]

Love scythe

[@unlimitedrabbit]

Same but I don't mean it as in "I love Scythe" (which I do). I mean it as in a command to others. 🔪

[@hanstschohl]

i love it. A Boardgame review directed and produced by Guy Richie!

[@venomenoide]

Have you ever tried Dawn of the zeds? it's a wargame with zombies

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Yes. More tower defence though innit

[@ColonelKurtz]

🤔 Seeing as you have The Legendary Box in the thumbnail, I'm going to guess you're going to say "yeah. Scythe is still worth playing today."

[@BoardGameBollocks]

It was a freebie from Stonemaier due to the punch hole in the front

[@unlimitedrabbit]

Scythe has so much eye candy straight out of the box that I couldn't help but accentuate the beauty further by upgrading to metal coins, metal mechs, a third party Factory decoration and I plan on eventually having my characters painted by someone. If I have to pick one negative about Scythe (and it's the same one I have with every game but when it's Scythe, I feel it more), it's that everyone calls resources whatever they feel like even after I've made it clear what their proper name is. Me during the teaching: This is metal. It's used for the deploy action. Player: I'll trade for two steel Another player: I'll trade for two iron. Me: 😓

[@captainimpulse]

😂

[@sirpoupadou]

Great review, and fully agree with you, although now it has been shelved probably for good for us, replaced by games with more interaction like Dune Imperium. I love that steampunk lore though, pretty unique too.

[@captainimpulse]

Dune: Imperium is probably the only game I enjoy more than Scythe. You, sir, have excellent taste.

[@AFel-pp1hp]

I own scythe. Everybody i play it with loves it... except me. I hate it. Cruel world.

[@williamblack6912]

What happened to the poor box?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Was a damaged freebie from Stonemaier

[@PaulMB40]

I'm in the U.K next year. Let's have a beer. By the time I get there I've calculated that the $ I've sent you as a Patron means you'll be shouting all night. ;)

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I don’t drink, but thanks for the support. You’ve kept me on cocaine for a few weeks.

[@PaulMB40]

@@BoardGameBollocks Ah well, it's cheaper than board games.

[@Paul-ro6py]

Agree the combat experience is weak. Also agree its a mile stone game, aging gracefully

[@que-tangclan5856]

Bullet tooth tony of boardgames

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@drunken_physics]

funny played this game and i have never understood the hype doesn't do any mechanic particularly well its like a jack of all trades and a master of none! whats worse is some of the combinations of characters are really not balanced so you need to know whats at least a reasonable combo. The area control and combat is just better in a million other games and the resource management isnt done particularly well. Maybe what people like the versatility of what you can do but there are many better even sandbox style games. This game goes in my massively overhyped list but I'm glad as always that many people like it.

[@kostishasopoulos9816]

Agreed! It was also one of my first modern games that got me hooked in board-gaming. I discovered it's flaws later.

[@trueseeing]

Agreed. It sells on it's artstyle, the gameplay itself has always left me disappointed.

[@helxis]

Stonemaier is sadly famous for releasing games that are horrendously unbalanced. They put most of their money into production and very little into rigorous testing. Mediocre designs with exquisite productions, of which Scythe is their best.

[@MattWGAllan]

I will say the action selection mechanism is unique, I don't really like it, but it is a part of its popularity I think, alongside aesthetics and production.

[@helxis]

@@MattWGAllan "Choose an action that you didn't previously choose" is effectively a rondel, which has been done many times in many great games before Scythe. Check out a lot of the offerings from designed Mac Gerdts.

[@FPMarcel]

Was always interested in the game but never got it and now it feels like there are just too many other games like it.

[@TheBlakeWhitaker]

Your missing out. I own hundreds of the best board games over the last 10 years and this is my favorite.

[@bearhustler]

Ive never got Scythe, everyone adores it and it is unquestionably beautiful and surprisingly affordable for the luxurious production values...but for me its completely sterile. It's an IKEA game.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Don’t ikea sell games?

[@mchamberlain7408]

Played it. Hated it

[@nodarkthings]

Think you're a bit of a hard man, don't ya?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

CND member, Vegan and I love kittens…

[@helxis]

Scythe is too slow and non-interactive for my tastes. It's like they managed to design the first ever multiplayer solitaire game that has a central, shared board. It is still easily Stonemaier's best game, but that is sadly a low bar.

[@sirpoupadou]

Fully agree, wonderful to play at first for the novelty, but soon felt so quiet and non-interactive, no one paying attention to the other players (or having to), multiplayer solo is a great definition! Was replaced by Dune Imperium in our group.

[@captainimpulse]

​​@@sirpoupadouOne of the best summaries of Scythe is that it's not a game about combat, but the threat of combat - very Cold War inspired. However, I think this true only at lower player counts. At 5 players, it's a combat clusterfugg full of opportunists and backstabbers. A very different game. And Rise of Fenris is [Chef's Kiss].

[@TheBlakeWhitaker]

Anyone that thinks Scythe is solitaire is someone who has no grasp of the meta game or potential of the mechanics. There is no game I can think of that has such incredible tension late in a game because someone may rush in and blow up your board state by carefully maneuvering before hand. Sad most people give up before realizing this.

[@fd3s64]

What would you recommend instead of Scythe then? For a group of 4.

[@helxis]

@@fd3s64 If you want a game of conflict on a map, then Inis or Kemet are great games.

[@veerchasm1]

I got rid of my copy and all it’s expansions , it’s neither a good “dudes on a board” game or “euro”. Everyone is fascinated by the art and miniatures. Too repetitive as a game

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Why did you buy the expansions if you didn’t like it?

[@arthursimsa9005]

The epitome of fake variability over actual replayability and balance. Factions and player mats are awfully unbalanced, and the combination of the two make it worse. Stonemaier had the opportunity to correct things. Instead the two new factions in the expansion are the worst factions, and the two new player mats are the strongest ones in the game. Stonemaier made a combination illegal when the game came out, then another years after. Now after more years have passed, it is clear in the community that these combinations are not even the strongest ones… This makes it impossible to play Scythe competitively on any serious way, and then you’ve got the fact that it’s predictable, slow, plodding, and that there’s no incentive to attack other players unless in the very last turns😟 I’ve discovered modern board gaming with Scythe. But objectively, it’s not great. Production and artwork are great. Gameplay isn’t.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I’m not sure you make a valid case with no specific examples, mate…

[@arthursimsa9005]

@@BoardGameBollocks the specifics are known by everyone, wtf are you about? « THE two factions in the expansion », I said. There are only two. « THE two new player mats ». Same. That’s pretty specific mate. I chose not to give the in-game names. This is not a Scythe lore channel…

[@TheBlakeWhitaker]

@@arthursimsa9005 there most certainly is a competitive scythe community. You really don’t know what your talking about.

[@petermillen6924]

Nah. I was never tempted by this flashy chunk of wank-material. I do agree with your assessment of its role in driving the current Kick$hitter marketing paradigm but I don’t see that as a positive. Still, there is no point in fighting against the success of this behemoth.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Play the automa under your duvet…no one will know

[@TheBlakeWhitaker]

Did you just crap on a game you haven’t played?

[@petermillen6924]

@@TheBlakeWhitaker Sure, it saves time.

[@sanderschippers2708]

Combat system is boring and therefore useless miniatures.