Lost Ruins of Arnak Review - with Tom Vasel

Tom Vasel takes a look at a deck building/Worker placement game about discovering accent ruins!
Intro 0:00
Overview 1:10
Final Thoughts 10:34
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BGG Link:

[@TheBrothersMurph]

This was our favorite game of Essen. We freaking looooove it! It may be our fav game of the year. It's all about trying to extend your round as long as humanely possible. Sooooo good

[@npckse8508]

I am waiting for the comparison for this and Dune: Imperium, or if I just need both.

[@aarondowning5791]

What Essen?

[@NS-qj8xj]

@@aarondowning5791 The world's biggest gaming convention in Essen Germany.

[@aarondowning5791]

@@NS-qj8xj There was no Essen this year.

[@NS-qj8xj]

@@aarondowning5791 Digital Essen perhaps? I believe they streamed some things.

[@winklestiltskin]

Very glad I preordered this. Much looking forward to playing. Thanks for the review, Tom!

[@sbtkd]

Amazing game!! Great addition to my collection...already looking forward to the forthcoming expansion

[@MrTheBigNoze]

I played this one on board game arena and was immediately hooked… I love the strategic thought of trying to extend your rounds as long as possible and optimizing resource conversion. Also great it can be a 1 player game. It all feels incredibly balanced and there are many paths to victory

[@BeigeMan366]

how do you play this solo?

[@matthewbayley7259]

Videos have been quite dark lately. Other than that good vid.

[@AltarenGalil]

That and the random audio static noise or whatever thats called at 1:27

[@harryofgo]

Yeah, I can't believe all the genocide talk. Way too dark

[@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.

[@sirennoir258]

Exactly!

[@cardflopper3307]

Played this today on boardgamearena. Very fun and satisfying game. if you're immediately turned off by deck building (as I usually am) fear not! The deck building is just a way to cycle thru actions.

[@Dork2099]

“A boat counts as a boot” is gonna be my new go-to for a humorous-sounding board game rule.

[@colmustard21]

As an added bonus you can greatly confuse people if you explain this rule in a Canadian accent!

[@JT-mq6oc]

I wanna do that too 🤣

[@Dagens24]

Just played it and really enjoyed it!

[@Daveyo520]

Yay, I'm glad to hear it's good.

[@Slyfox1775]

Have on order can’t wait !!

[@nappynut]

I feel like I need to play this one before I commit to purchasing it.

[@Steve_Mazza]

That "Component Drop" zone makes me irrationally upset. "You had better clean that up, young man!" ;)

[@tempestfury8324]

If I'm going to play a euro....this looks fun! I love the artwork.

[@darinherrick9224]

I don't usually like Euros and I based on setup I expected to hate this game. But once you actually start playing it quickly becomes a lot of fun. It's very very good.

[@TheBrokenMeeple]

Surprised it didn't make excellence. But hey ho, I played this on Grogans channel and I had such a blast with this. Theme, look, balance, choices and like you said its not stupidly long, take note Euro game publishers!! Can't wait for my copy!

[@patcon314]

Are the bonus tiles face-up or face-down when placed? I played first time today and we put them out so it was face-down, which made it more of a discovery. Bit me when I got a "bonus" I couldn't use.

[@KarlSwenson]

Face up! :)

[@adriang6259]

Thanks Tom. I might go get this one.

[@GreysonDKB]

This seems like a cross between Champions of Migard and Ckank! In the jungle. I love both games, so I'm gonna get my hands on this. Thanks for the video!

[@mrbastos]

Sounds great, my copy is on the way. I cannot wait. I like game with lots of options, but aren't too heavy either.

[@FallenB1ade]

Where did you get the game? I'm passing on this almost entirely because I'm sketched out by the lack of Kickstart/ clear distributor options

[@mrbastos]

@@FallenB1ade I ordered directly from CGE's website

[@FallenB1ade]

@@mrbastos Is it no longer available now? This link just shows me info with no buy link czechgames.com/en/lost-ruins-of-arnak/

[@mrbastos]

@@FallenB1ade just went through the link in my email and it looks like it was pre-orders only "Pre-orders have been closed. If you are interested in purchasing Lost Ruins of Arnak and Under Falling Skies, please, contact your local store. All the best, CGE Team"

[@FallenB1ade]

@@mrbastos Thanks - looks like I'll pass on this one and just wait for Endless Winter then.

[@lupitajones7]

More than approved!❤

[@jamescartwright1150]

Interesting reminds me of Clank.

[@sirennoir258]

This is my favorite game! You can play as a super beginner and win or experienced and lose... luck is very much involved. Never know who will win!

[@hz1249]

The artworks for this one is just beautiful. The details on the drawings are very impressive. Components are great! I kinda wish the coins and compasses would in plastic but that will make the RRP is a lot higher than it is now. At first, things are a bit confusing, this and that, then the cards, etc, etc. Once you get the flow, the next rounds and games will be just smooth. If one thing they could do differently is the guardians, it could be replaced by mini-quest or puzzle, tho it might get repetitive. All in all, an impressive game to be added to your collection.

[@jessadams6836]

Anyone think the way Tom says COMpass is weird?

[@Vascariz]

Not really

[@TheTrout9000]

I honestly had no idea which way was correct so I googled it. A soft u sound is correct according to all-mighty Google.

[@linktechjjb]

yeah, makes me cringe a tiny bit each time. But that's just one of Tom's quirks!

[@AltarenGalil]

I thought that was the normal pronounciation till you pointed it out, where im from (non english) we say it like that so it sounded fine.

[@jessadams6836]

I love Tom I just thought it was funny.

[@tomasxfranco]

If only I could get this game.

[@alecgalbraith5604]

You had me as soon as you said research track. But then you combine worker placement and deck building? I’m in.

[@patchmo7]

I’m new to board game playing/collecting. Can someone tell me what is meant by a “Euro” game?

[@CosmicTavern]

Welcome to the hobby! A euro game could be explained from a high level in that they are games that are more focused on the mechanics and less on theme. They also sometimes do not have a lot of player interaction.

[@Syncopator]

Is there much player interactivity? It looks a bit like multi-player solitaire from this review.

[@nerzenjaeger]

Not too much, however, as soon as better worker spots are discovered, those are HIGHLY sought-after.

[@ClockworkWyrm]

This game looks great and the art is gorgeous which are definite pluses. But the mechanisms and gameplay remind me a LOT of Clank, just without the dungeon crawling aspect. Actually my partner hates the final race to escape the dungeon in Clank so this might be a better alternative.

[@Wustenfuchs109]

Also, the expansion that came since then and a single player story campaign (in 4 chapters) is a very nice add-on. I hope the game evolves with more story campaigns (for solo or multiplayer) over time, it does not really need anything else. Add a few stories with some Legacy mechanics (at least between the chapters, as it currently does), some story-related items and artifacts, and it is all you need. I don't think that adding new boards and mechanics to this game (as expansions tend to do) would work well. But a story?! Yes please! I played through the currently only available one and it is awesome!

[@Snoozejocky]

Got it today 50% at Barnes and Noble! Great day for gamers!

[@daniellebackus819]

I was able to find a copy of cat in the box from Barnes and noble online. They weren’t on my radar as a good place to get games, but now they are.

[@gamera2351]

Good review. But looks like there was a brown out in the studio. So dark.

[@kimjanek646]

Just searched for the game out of curiosity. Didn't know that Boardgames are so popular on youtube. Seems like nowdays there's no content that isn't covered by people :D

[@Wustenfuchs109]

Board games kinda exploded in the last decade or so - people realized that you can introduce a lot of mechanics and make very interesting games. For a long time, board game as a concept was tied to the games like Monopoly, Cluedo, Risk etc. Very basic concepts with a lot of flaws. Modern board games cover a huge variety of topics and mechanics and they really exploded in popularity, to the point where you are getting popular PC games ported into a board game format (like Frostpunk, and most recently, even Skyrim). And when ever something is really popular - of course you will have it on KZbin. Truth be told, the biggest channels were there before the Board Game boom, but since then they have grown quite a bit. Market is booming. Gaming moved more towards indie games and board games, rather than AAA PC/Console games, due to high prices and years of sub-standard products from the biggest game studios.

[@kimjanek646]

@@Wustenfuchs109 Good Point 🙂

[@RynoKenny]

Endless Winter is getting my deckbuilding worker placement cash for now, even though it won't be arriving for a year.

[@kumanight]

Yeah I came to the same conclusion. I like the theme of Arnack better but Endless Winter looks like a tighter experience

[@brodprod]

I'm getting both :D

[@ringostarr7080]

Sounds to me that this game does feel for a euro like clank feels like for a deckbuilder. More randomness but more theme and fun

[@JacobPorterLadder]

My issues with endless winter is that it was messy and less accessable. This seems a bit more manageable and I'm excited to watch some playthroughs

[@joseg.6187]

I didn't hear much negative from Tom. So why not above 8?

[@bushibayushi]

because this game isn't good enough for him or doesn't do anything cool/engaging enough to warrant giving it an 8

[@guybrushthreepwood9071]

What keeps this game from being judged excellent?

[@thedicetower]

Because it's a really good game! I only give a few games a year "excellent"

[@JhoffDJ.]

I’d be willing to bet that if this launch didn’t coincide with Dune, Arnak would have received higher praise.

[@Fissi0nChips]

So if you are feeling angry Tom, would you get a calmpass so be less angry?

[@JT-mq6oc]

🤣

[@CarbonXe]

He'd probably be happier to get a calmpass than a cumpiss

[@fightingkitchen7960]

1:25 what’s that electric sound?

[@beornthebear9023]

Do you think this and Dune imperium are different enough you would want both.

[@MatheusVenti]

Now I don't know which one to buy! =/

[@beornthebear9023]

Same hoping we get a comparison at some point

[@nerzenjaeger]

I'm baffled by these kinds of questions. What does "different enough" even mean for you?

[@kazmadan]

@@nerzenjaeger Beorn actually specified: "different enough /you would want both/". Want to own also typically means want to play, and games overlapping enough that you won't want to play both isn't that unusual. For example, Hanamikoji and Battle Line are not the same but they're similar enough to me that I don't feel the need to own both of them, personally. Beorn clearly started with "Do you think" so he's asking Tom if he feels that way about the two games to him. I think it's odd you find the question baffling.

[@beornthebear9023]

@@kazmadan exactly for me at least I typically keep my collection somewhere between 100-200 so with two games coming out listing the same mechanisms I just am curious if they feel similar mechanically. As I am very interested in both

[@rb4551]

Surprised its not a seal of excellence. Im currently pledging Endless Winters and it seems somewhat similar in some respects....Notably the worker placement + deck building but also the many ways you can go about the game (exploration, animal collection, etc in endless winters. They are both beautiful.....im now debating which one I should get...I love the style of both, the art of both, and the concept of both lol.

[@LeeKenshin7]

I was also having the same debate but decided on both mainly because Endless Winter won't be delivered until over a year from now. Allows me to play Arnak for at least a year and decide if there is room for both in my collection or one goes to the trade/sell pile. The struggle for me was more so between Arnak and Dune: Imperium but Arnak looks much better and I don't care for the Dune universe.

[@franciscorojas8088]

I already played Endless Winter and found it quite boring, it's too long for its depth and there's only one main strategy. Also, it's different mechanisms don't blend very well. I haven't played lost ruins of arnak, but it looks way better.

[@ilqrd.6608]

@@franciscorojas8088 Definitely not „way“ better. Endless Winter is more creative (possibly more disjointed) but Arnak is as safe and unexciting as a game can get

[@PickleTheHutt]

To me, it seems like a just another euro with a huge variety of different mechanisms for points with little thematic connection for what the points represent. For me it's a hard pass but I don't like most euros so that's not too surprising. Too bad as I like the jungle adventure theme and the art. I imagine euro gamers will enjoy it.

[@Karujin277]

Exactly, this game does nothing new. The artwork is nice but really doesn't warrant getting the game.

[@Vascariz]

Debating this vs Endless Winter >°

[@joseg.6187]

Play now or in 2 years?

[@voyager5333]

Play Lost Ruins of Arnak in 2021, Endless Winter in 2022.

[@stevensum2011]

You have long wait. Enjoy the wait.

[@Vascariz]

Less about the wait, more about my wallet.

[@idodata9191]

compass

[@joukenienhuis6888]

Sounds great, but I still have to get used to that many actions in one turn.

[@Cons2911]

Artwork looks very cool, tokens and such are nice. Gameplay seems fun..but man… the size of this thing

[@pierrewhite2062]

The way you say compass...lol

[@hannahbeertz1231]

Is this comparable to Quest for Eldorado? I have not played either.

[@mikemudrow]

Only in theme and for the mechanism of deck-building. El Dorado is a race game driven by deck-building. It has no resources outside of the cards, nor does it have worker placement.

[@waltercardcollector]

Would you say this is what Friedmann Friese's "Copycat" was supposed to be?

[@revimfadli4666]

IDK, its deckbuilding aspect is pretty weak compared to the rest of the game, in contrast to Copycat's WP and deckbuilding halves being about as significant as each other, as well as mutually affecting each other quite strongly. Dune: Imperium and Endless Winter: Paleoamericans might be closer to being Copycat's successors/balanced hybrids, but even those might lean slightly more towards the WP part, based on reviews I read

[@darinherrick9224]

Yup. It's not a work placement deck-building game. It's a point salad with a slow engine-build that uses worker placement and deck-building to move that engine.

[@Nick_Whiskey]

why does this look familiar?

[@patrickolmstead1557]

Looks like Champions of Midgard to me.

[@yepeceliz]

For me looks like everdell overall

[@CosmicTavern]

Reminds me of Spelunky.

[@MatheusVenti]

Now I don't know if I want Arnak or Dune: Imperium.

[@blacksheep9950]

I know, right? I have both of these on my wishlist and I can't decide between them. And there's that Endless Winter one on Kickstarter as well. Three worker-placement deckbuilding hybrid games for up to four players of similar weight and length.

[@blacksheep9950]

I went for Dune Imperium in the end. Reviews so far have certainly made me feel better about that decision.

[@MatheusVenti]

@@blacksheep9950 Yeah, me too. After watching gameplay of both, I thought that Dune seems more strategic, with more paths to planning. The reviews also clearly leans to Dune. :)

[@Mark-OutWest]

Both fine mechanical games but neither connecting much with theme.

[@caseydraven]

Drink every time Tom mispronounces “compass”! Lol jk jk I love you Tom! 😃

[@edwardbrost331]

Yeah Painfull !!!!

[@hencole]

Tom pronounces it the correct way or at least that is how it is said in English.

[@ilqrd.6608]

It’s a perfectly fine game. Nothing more, nothing less. If you read up on it I can tell you that it delivers exactly what you would expect. It won’t surprise you in any way. It has no highs, no lows.

[@mikahthefett]

Symbology??? ITS SYMBOLISM!! 😂

[@PatrickBrophy]

Slightly tilted at how Tom pronounces compass.

[@supercommando440]

The board seems obnoxiously large

[@Wustenfuchs109]

It might seem so, but it really isn't. Any smaller, and the design would suffocate itself. Sure, you could cram it all on a 20% smaller board, reduce the gaps between things, but it would look awful and way too noisy. I picked a few tricks working with graphic designers (I am a game designer myself) and, as they say it, "the design needs some space to breathe". And Arnak is a nice place where you can see that idea. I would not decrease the size of the board, but for a smaller main board I'd maybe remove the resource and tiles side-board and cut the card row (either the top with decks or both rows) and have players put those cards where ever. That might shorten the board a bit. But, then again, the original size fits nicely on a regular sized dining table where you'd play something like this. This is not a party game, nor is it something you'd play for 20 minutes on a coffee table. So its size is not really an issue.

[@SuperUltimatedrifter]

No mention of the very cheap quality main board... that was the first thing i noticed when unboxing the game or the lack of insert.

[@stevensum2011]

Maybe his keeping the best score for dune. Both games use same mechanics.

[@LeeKenshin7]

According to Corner to Corner with Rahdo, it seems Dune Imperium was Tom's favorite game played during Essen Spiel. I wouldn't be surprised if he gives it a 9 or higher.

[@denniscummingsjr.1772]

I didn't hear anything bad... why not Seal of Excellence?

[@nerzenjaeger]

Because it‘s good, not great.

[@richardhancock1505]

Richard Hancock judgement... “Excellent !”

[@williamgarcia-medina9989]

“They should create a colonizers expansion”

[@rd2234]

Judgment is not spelled "Judgement". Please fix your mat :)

[@cursivecurses]

Both are considered correct English.

[@Steve_Mazza]

Frankly, "judgment" looks really inelegant in print - how exactly is "dgm" pronounced, anyway? The spelling "judgement" just looks better and more natural. Language changes over time ... Vote with your keyboard. www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/judgement-vs-judgment/

[@rd2234]

​@@Steve_Mazza Judgment is the standard correct spelling regardless how inelegant some people might subjectively think the word appears.

[@Steve_Mazza]

@@rd2234 But the OED says "judgment" is the weirdo. What evidence do you have to convince me that the ugly spelling is better? www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/judgement www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judgment

[@rd2234]

@@Steve_Mazza 'Judgement' is accepted in common British English spelling while 'Judgment' is the common American English spelling, however, both American & British legal documents adhere to a more proper common standard and both use 'Judgment'.

[@freuddukes]

COM passes lol

[@brucesmith8584]

This game looks amazing. Can’t wait to get my copy! Tom is wrong. This is seal of excellence!

[@thedicetower]

So I'm wrong when I say that a game is good?

[@theenthusiast4218]

@@thedicetower If you don't like something as much as someone else, you are a hater.

[@Jootie_de_Kop]

Just a seal of approval? This is an ego thing. Tom Vasel doesn't want to go with the flow and puts his heals in the sand. Same thing with Zee and Nidavellir. Arnak is an excellent game and Tom Vasel knows it.

[@rappscallion3238]

"Worker placement game about discovering accent ruins" They speak with French accent maybe?

[@Puzzu]

Meh....couldn’t get over the pronunciation of compass throughout this, argh,

[@codevelop3741]

I hate the way he handles the board and the components, the beginning is especially off putting when the components are thrown from the top. Please stop doing that.

[@justinedwards6390]

Learn to pronounce compass. You're not British

[@thedicetower]

Yes sir.