Why I'll Never Play Kingdomino Again!

[@blackjack2150]

Looks interesting, but for me Kingdomino is a quick and simple gateway game, so I'm not looking for more complexity. Got other games I need something more complex. Same reason I am OK with owning Barenpark base game only, and not the expansion.

[@i8aNooB]

Agreed

[@aimajica]

I do agree for Bärenpark; the expansion modules are nice to throw in sometimes, when you want something a little bit more challenging, but I rarely play with them (the setup of this game is also already quite long). But it's different for Kingdomino, I personnally never play it without the "Giants" expansion. It adds some tasty new tiles, some interaction between the players (the Giants are especially great when you play with Kids) and new simple challenges with the objective tiles. Nothing that takes more than two minutes to explain to someone visiting your house. I would argue that the first and second modes of Kingdomino Origins are even simpler to explain (but feels quite different to play, you don't think exactly the same way than the previous game). The third mode is indeed a little too much to introduce immediately to non gamers, but as a second or third game of it... ;)

[@internet2055]

anyone help please, can only get 1 should we get Kingdomino or Barenpark???

[@blackjack2150]

@@internet2055 I like Barenpark more. For me it feels like a proper, rewarding game, where Kindomino is more like a filler.

[@brunoalamaison2063]

Really happy you enjoyed your gale experience, Dan... Thanks a lot for the review

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Thanks Bruno!

[@jimgrant9081]

“Back when fire was being invented…”. Glad to see the comparisons!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Glad you enjoyed it Jim!

[@tah27891]

This is just 'The Court' print and play expansion that the released during the start of the pandemic with a different theme (with the totems added) which no one seems to know about

[@aimajica]

Small correction: "That they released FREELY in print&play during the pandemic". xD Don't make publishers regret to give things freely lol. :D "The court" was nice but had a well known balancing issue: some low-numbered tiles became suddenly too good for their ranks in the turn order. This game fixed this problem and added the nice volcano mechanic (it's not a huge thing, but it's a really fun and interesting new twist on the recipe). Like its predecessor, it's for me a family game masterpiece.

[@bigd7383]

As someone who owns both Kingdomino & Queendomino.......I will definitely be getting this for all the reasons you named but keeping Kingdomino because I occasionally end up with 7 players on a game night & so being able to play Queendomino upto 8 players is still a necessity.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Cool! Yes if you play more than 4 often keeping both is a great reason!

[@internet2055]

@@TheGameBoyGeeks Barenpark or Kingdomino if we could only take 1?????

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

@@internet2055 Denitiely Apples and Oranges. Not really compatrable.

[@eburns-nc]

This looks amazing. I'll definitely be adding it to my collection.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Cool Eric!

[@Nayr090]

Very cool, sounds like the gamer-y Kingdomino. Like, half a notch up, plus the two modes that are a full notch up. Very cool! Interesting that it's on par with Queendomino

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Yes and I think having the choices of the game mode is a great way to allow it to serve different style of game groups. For example more aggressive vs more solitare

[@justinrrizzo]

If I have to decide between taking one tile to help myself or another just to screw someone to prevent them from getting a massive amount of points, I HAVE to make that choice. If you double down on that with a second layer of that type of gameplay (totems), it becomes too much. The expansions/modules for King just have not been good. Queen has been all I need, personally.

[@ajdarias]

Hello, thank you for your deep review. A great and basic improvement would have been including more dominoes tiles to build a bigger area per player. Also I think exchanging any pair of resources in favour of any cavern tile displayed is too open, too easy, and means a poor drafting. Also paying 3 resource to search for the cavern tile you prefer within the whole pile or stack is too generous not to mention that is feedly.

[@aimajica]

You need to pay 4 different resources to freely search for the caveman you want. The cost of two displayed cavemen. It's very expensive, because resources nicely placed around characters can be worth a lot of points. So for me it was just an interesting new possibility I had to consider. This game is an awesome version of Kingdomino in my opinion - that is strangely already underrated... :/

[@benjaminspears8488]

I think I still prefer the simplicity of Kingdomino. We always play it with the Giants expansion and enjoy the different scoring options in it.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

That’s what is great about this one. The simple discovery mode which is essentially standard Kingdomino with one little twist of the volcanoes.

[@aimajica]

That is also the way I play the previous game ^^. It's for me the perfect gateway/light family game. But you should give this one a try. It's a fresh new take on the core system of Kingdomino, and the first two modes are roughly on the same complexity level than Kingdomino+Giants.

[@jamessherman7797]

I’ve only played Kingdomino on BGA. I like tile laying games, but wasn’t my favorite. I really like games designed by Bruno C. So I may consider adding this new game to my collection. I play games with a wide range of people from non or casual gamers to hard core gamers. So, this game may a great addition. Thanks for your thorough review of the modes.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

In that case Check out Moon River!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn-pXq16p9SGb7s

[@asharsenault4899]

Picked this up for $5 at Calendar Club yesterday purely because it seemed like a sweet deal. Now I’m even more stoked! Thanks! :)

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

That’s a steal!!!

[@nintendy]

Great Review - Thanks! (love the facial hair Dan!) :-)

[@VikingKittens]

Hi Dan. Great review that gave a comprehensive idea about all modes. This is my first purchase of a Kingdomino game and I tried it last night. Really enjoyed and your review rang true. The one rule we could find an answer to was are volcano tiles able to match up with other volcano tiles when that is the only commonality? Just wondering your thoughts on this one. Cheers!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

I believe yes as long as you match one side of the domino you're ok.

[@boardgameman6298]

This is a great sequel to KingDomino. Thanks for your review!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Yes it is!

[@DiddleDeets]

like hunters n gatherers v carc, this adds some nice theme n complexity but us experienced gamers shouldn't dismiss the absolute importance of kingdomino basic edition. That game is so important for brand new gamers. I would argue the volcano rule is a step too far for millions of non-gamers who might actually be put off by an extra rule. It's precisely these entry level games, at £10, that are crucial to open up gaming to muggles.

[@aimajica]

No, really, the volcano rule is not difficult to explain at all. My five-year-old immediately grasped the concept. It's cutely thematic and enjoyable to see your little volcanoes spitting fire tokens around them (Actually, I played directly on mode 2 (majority) with him, and he had no problem to understand the rules from the get go). After a few plays of this game with different kinds of people, I feel comfortable to say that Kingdomino Origins is as perfect as a gateway/light family game as its predecessor.

[@balmipour]

@@aimajica The base game remains better for new gamers. Didn't try this one yet, but volcanoes are clearly one unnecessarily complex mechanic, in that regard. It's not about the rule being complex. But it makes your decision tree much more dense, and understanding how to make a good use it is probably quite tricky too. I absolutely *love* Kingdomino (and played it a bit too much, on BGA), but wouldn't go for something as complex as this one for newbies. You might not be aware of it, but most players are already quite bad at the base game. And such an addition can only increase complexity. I still hope I'll be able to try this one (it looks great !), but for non-gamers ? I'd definitely stick to the base version.

[@diamondmeeple]

I only played the basic Kingdomino two times... some talk well about the Age of Giants expansion. But you did not cover or mentioned it here. Would've been nice to try this new one.

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

The age of Giants is good! Although I find myself less and less playing expansions unless they are just mixed in and you don’t have to take out or put anything new in depending on which version you’re playing

[@xshadowscreamx]

I liked the original art more.

[@aimajica]

It's the same artist, but I agree, I also prefer the fantasy setting, with all the cute references to fairy tales and legendary creatures. The art sill feels fresh and innocent though, very charming, very silly, like the first opus.

[@jankogo]

What about this vs. Queendomino?

[@SanjuroSan]

You just sold a copy!

[@TheGameBoyGeeks]

Let me know what you think when you get it!

[@waferjuice]

uh No.. i will still play normal kingdomino.. this adds too much complexity for an already basic game

[@csabazalan2278]

terrible graphic, for sure will not replace king nor queendomino

[@aimajica]

It's the same artist... xD But I have to admit that I also prefer the fantasy setting (with all the cute little easter eggs ^^). The game itself is great though. A superb gateway/light family game like his older brother.

[@csabazalan2278]

@@aimajica indeed game is not bad but I do not see a reason to buy it next to King and Queendomino.