Cardgame... check!
Science Fiction... check!
Economy... check!
Quality components... check!

This all meaning I got interested in Race for the Galaxy. Make no mistakes in the beginning (and understand right away) - I have not yet played this game, nor do I own it. The only exception to this two-fold rule is the fact that I joined the Geeklist of red turtle here to try it online as a team vs. team game of two virtual players.

Thus this is the beginning of the "A Yeti stumbles upon..." series of Previews on my behalf, or better said, of my views of games I am interested in through BoardGameGeek. Interested enough to get and read the rules and search for possibilities to try the games before an actual purchase (which may never happen, depending on the availability of suitable players around me).

Let us move on.


Why did I look back when I stumbled...
Race for the Galaxy got me hooked exactly because it is easy to carry around in a larger pocket and take out for a half- or full-hour game (depending on experience of players). Space theme is one of my favorites so this was not even in question. And the development of your empire is another aspect I like, therefore it adds to the experience.

Is it hard to get into?
Yes and no. Depends on how much you are interested in.

I have only two options for you, my friend:

Either you like it so much that you grab the manual, read it and want to try the game afterwards. This way I got the icons pretty straight without even having cards themselves for reference (and to compare more of them to "get" it). No problem there for me. Just need a game to really "sink" the icons on the cards in.

The other option for you, my friend, is to let an experienced player "walk" you through an example game, showing his decisions, explaining icons along the way and handing you the cards afterwards sou that you can ask him about their functions and the iconography.

No other way possible. If you do not like any of the previous ways and would rather grab the cards, read your hand instantly and maybe win, there is a no-go stop-sign saying "turn left on the next crossing". This is a different game.

What do I think of the gaming experience of it...
I really like what I "see" in the game. The interaction (after you learn the cards more and slowly begin to find out what THIS combination does and what THAT player is trying to do), the building (yes, the growing collecition of Worlds and Developments before you gets nicer and nicer, and inbetween more powerful) and the difference with each game (even if you get one different card in the beginning, your strategy and tactics can change dramatically).

Why would I sit down after stumbling upon this?
To bring this game out, shuffle, deal and dive into an intense galactic-spanning-empire-developing-suspisiously-eyeing-another-players-like experience that promises a lot of fun.

Yes, just for that.


After sitting down, the Yeti crawls back to his feet and moves along with a dark-blue cardboard card glued on his hindquarters.