Stonemaier Games Scythe Board Game

Last updated: July 31, 2024


After the great war has ended and "The Factory" begins reigning in this board game, you will have to adapt to the times if you want to survive. This game involves tough decisions and a deep storyline that should really suck you in and let your mind escape in its world.

We looked at the top Games For Adults and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Game For Adults you should buy.

Product Details

Key Takeaway: This fun board game challenges you to make wise decisions for the survival of you and your friends.

In our analysis of 39 expert reviews, the Stonemaier Games Scythe Board Game placed 8th when we looked at the top 13 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

It is a time of unrest in 1920S Europa. The ashes from the first great war still darken the snow. The capitalistic city-state known simply as “the factory,” which fueled the war with heavily armored Mechs, has closed its doors, drawing the attention of several nearby countries. Scythe is a board game set in an alternate-history 1920S period. It is a time of farming and war, broken hearts and rusted gears, innovation and Valor. In scythe, each player represents a fallen leader attempting to restore their honor and lead their faction to power in Eastern Europa. Players conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous Mech.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

The game is complex, so make sure your gaming partners are ready for a bit of a brain-burning session. But Scythe is also much more elegant and easy to play than it looks on paper, and veteran gamers will find that everything clicks after just a few turns.
I’m really impressed with this game. Its blend of resource gathering, exploration, turn management and combat results in a conflict that’s entirely unpredictable. Because the game isn’t just about fighting, or just about farming, there are multiple approaches to confronting your opponents and winning the game, which makes for a fascinating struggle, and a game that plays out differently every time you get it out.
- Kotaku
Even with just the base game, Scythe was incredible for me and my group of friends. It’s simple enough to pick up and teach to newcomers easily, and difficult and varied enough to the point where each game is different and unique.
- Medium
We were immediately hooked by its immense strategic depth and the beautiful steampunk-meets-pastoral-idyll worldbuilding aesthetic.

What reviewers didn't like

If you’re looking for a game you can teach in five minutes and play in an hour, keep looking. If you’re hankering for a full-on 4X extravaganza or a smash-'em-up that will fulfill your bloodlust for nonstop combat, Scythe probably won’t do it for you.
It looks a little daunting initially. Indeed, navigating these player cards (large cardboard mats which show your current status) is perhaps the toughest thing to get your head around, and easily the weakest part of Scythe’s design, as the inconsistent way they’re designed and laid out is very confusing.
- Kotaku
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