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Board game review & gameplay of: Libertalia

Game design: P. Mori

  • 9/10
  • 14+
  • 1-6 players
  • 45-60 minutes

Gameplay

Libertalia is a remake of the game released in 2012. 

In Libertalia players all have a deck of 40 numbered cards, each containing some special power. 

At the beginning of a voyage (the game consists of 3 voyages) one player randomly draws 6 cards to determine everyones hand that round. Then the players will play 4-6 turns per voyage, depending on which voyage they're in. 

Players simultaneously select a card to play and put this card in front of them. Then, they all show their card and they will be placed from low to high. Now 3 phases will be executed:

The dayphase, in which the daypowers will be executed, from low to high

The duskphase in which players will collect loottokens, from high to low

The nightphase in which players activate night powers.

The powers give certain actions to switch cards, get doubloons or something with the loot tokens. In the end the player with the most doubloons wins the game.

Thoughts

Libertalia is a beautiful game in which players constantly have to outweigh their options, what card to play and what card will the others play? How to gain most doubloons and the best loot? Also the replayvalue is very high with various lootabilities and 40 cards!

👍 The component quality is as we are used from stonemaier games. The insert is great and the cards are of a-klasse quality.

👍I find the artwork great! Vibrant colours and appealing illustrations with animallike pirates!

👍I love games that are big, but actually are not that big in gameplay. It feels like a very luxurious (and elaborated) trick taking game.

👍The gameplay is great and very accessible, with all possible combinations it keeps on being interesting how the game will play!

➖👍 The game plays (surprisingly) well at 2p but, since there is so much interaction with more players I do recommend it more for 3+ players.

Solomode

The solomodus plays with a deck of cards and works really well. But like mentioned above, this game shines through the synergy of various players!

9/10

A copy of this game was provided to me by Stonemaier Games for the purpose of writing this review. My opinion however remains my own.

Boardgamegeek BGG

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