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Lowell Kempf
United States
Chicago
Illinois
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The Swarm is a game based on a book that I've never read and, to be honest, doesn't look like one I would really enjoy. However, I picked it up because it was by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling and, well, because the price has dropped so low.
My group actually played my copy on a day I couldn't make it  Fortunately, they liked it enough that they didn't have any problems with playing it again, this time with me
The Swarm, while themed around researchers trying to discover information about a mysterious life form in the middle of the ocean, is really a connection game. If there is one games that it really reminded me of, it would be Metro by Dirk Henn.
Without rewriting the rule book, each round is divided up into three parts. First, players get action cards in a Vikings style auction. All the cards are in a row. The further down the row, the more points you have to pay toget it. Second, players take turns playing those cards. And, at the end of each round, there is some scoring.
Actions can be divided up into three types: collect tiles, place and attack other players. In the process, you add and move cute little wooden pieces on the board. What you are fundamentally doing is building up a network of paths that will score you points by its size and connections.
I have to make a special note about those attack actions. When you attack other players, you gain the points they lose, which is determined by how many points you have. While an individual hit isn't that bad, I ended up losing fifteen points in the last round and another player got eighteen points. He didn't win but he did push me out of second. Ignoring attacks can be amazingly costly.
The other thing I have to note is that the game only lasts three to four rounds. While some of us (me included) liked how that made for a quick but meaty play, at least one guy felt the game went too fast. I do have to admit that the first round does feel like set up and the second round hits fifth gear in the blink of an eye.
The Swarm isn't an amazing game but it is a solid and fun game, particularly for the speed it plays. The box may say ninety minutes but I suspect repeat plays will get that down to an hour.
I do think that the theme doesn't help the game. When a game based on a science fiction thriller reminds me of a game about building the Paris underground, you know something is off. (and I am a science fiction fan!)
If you are looking for a connection game that let's you hurt other people and you can find it cheap, the Swarm is worth looking at. If you are looking for a science fiction game, you are going to be disappointed. Maybe that's why I was able to get it so cheap.
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