Everdell Board Game: A Comprehensive Review for Strategy Lovers

By: Starling Games   Players: 1-4     Ages: 10+     Time: 40-80 mins

Within the charming valley of Everdell, beneath the boughs of towering trees, among meandering streams and mossy hollows, a civilization of forest critters is thriving and expanding.

Everdell Board Game is suitable for a wide age range, particularly ideal for kids aged 10-13, though younger players around age 6 may need some adult assistance.

From Everfrost to Bellsong, many a year has come and gone, but the time has come for new territories to be settled and new cities established. You will be the leader of a group of critters intent on just such a task.

There are buildings to construct, lively characters to meet, and events to host—you have a busy year ahead of you. Will the sun shine brightest on your city before the winter moon rises?

What Is Everdell Board Game?

Everdell is a worker placement and card game designed by James Wilson and published by Starling Games in 2018. From the outset the game was well regarded and received strong praise. Many called it one of the best games of 2018, with its engaging game play, forest animal theme, and art and components all receiving positive attention. Since its release it has been nominated for and won dozens of awards, especially around its aesthetics and gameplay. There have been over a dozen expansions released to expand gameplay, a digital version, and an iteration aimed at younger players with simplified rules.

Overall, Everdell is considered a good game for its complexity and suitability for family play, making it a worthwhile addition to any board game collection.

Players in Everdell take on the role of forest animals building a city over four seasons by collecting resources, recruiting workers, and constructing buildings. Meeples representing said animals are placed around the forest to gain resources to buy cards, utilising special abilities along the way, attending special events, and gaining points toward winning the game.

Everdell Board Game Set-Up

Everdell Board Game is played on a 3-D board representing the town with the Ever Tree taking focus at the top of the board. Resources are placed along the bank of the river and point tokens next to the board. Four basic event tiles are placed along the river and four special events are placed on the lower branches of the Ever Tree. Forest cards are shuffled and placed in the forest clearing and eight cards from the main deck are randomly picked and placed faceup in the Meadow, with the rest going next to the Ever Tree. 

Each player then chooses a colour and receives two working of that colour, then places four other workers on the upper branches of the Ever Tree: one on spring, one on summer, and two on autumn. Finally, everyone draws a certain amount of cards from the main deck and the ‘most humble’ player starts the game, which is always a fun way to figure out who starts. 

How To Play: Worker Placement

When a player takes a turn they can perform one of three different actions: place a worker, play a card, or prepare for season.

Workers are necessary for the expansion and success of the city. Deploying them at various locations will result in them gathering resources, allowing a player to draw more cards, host an event, or embark on a journey. Locations come in two types: exclusive, where only one worker may be placed, or shared, which allows multiple workers. Once a worker moves to a location, the player takes the listed resources or performs the action listed.

Action spaces normally allow players to take resources, destination cards ask players to take certain actions and gain points for them, and events players can claim and score from an event card as long as they meet all the requirements listed on it, as well as pay the resource cost. There is also the Haven, where players can discard cards to gain resources, and during the autumn, players can send their workers on a journey, discarding cards to gain points in return. The ultimate goal is to have the most points at the end of the game, as the player with the most points wins.

Alternatively, a card can be played by paying the requirements listed on it. They may be played either from a players hand, or from the cards available in the meadow. These cards are placed in front of the player an form their city. There are two types of cards: critters and constructions. Each card is unique and will grant the player certain bonuses or abilities that can be utilised during gameplay when playing subsequent cards or collecting resources. These can activate at different points throughout the game, such as, as soon as it’s played, during a particular season, or grants bonuses after playing certain card types. Players can have a maximum of fifteen cards in their city and eight cards in their hands, so hand and city management throughout the game is crucial. Any cards taken from the meadow must be replaced with a new card from the draw deck.

Thematically, the game begins in late winter and ends as the next winter approaches. Autumn is the last prepare season action that can be performed in the game. The prepare season action can only be performed after a player has placed all their current workers. When the prepare season action is chosen, the player that initiated it brings back all their deployed workers. Changing of the season brings with it new workers for the player and certain other perks, like activating green production cards in their city, or drawing two cards from the ones available in the meadow. Understanding when to change the season can have a huge tactical advantage to the player, so doing so at a critical point in the game can swing the balance for players and give them a much-needed boost.

When players cannot perform any more actions or do not wish to, they have finished the game and must pass their turn. A player that has passed cannot be given any more cards or resources. Other players may continue as usual until they too decide to pass. Once all players have passed, points are added up to calculate the winner, with the highest points wins. These points come mostly from the cards they’ve accumulated, point tokens, purple prosperity card bonuses, and journeys or events.

For those wishing to play alone, there is an alternative solo mode where the player competes against a rodent known as Rugwort. The game plays similarly to a two player variant, but Rugwort has various tricks up his sleeve and will be able to take various actions at certain points in the game. For example, every time a card is played, he too gets to play a card. When the player decides to take the prepare for season action, Rugwort also gets to perform a unique action for him as well as moves one or several of his workers. There are also varying degrees of difficulty when facing him, with the odds stacked against the player creating a greater level of challenge.

The Evertree: A Central Mechanic

One of the most enchanting features of Everdell is the Evertree, a towering cardboard tree that stands proudly on the game board. This whimsical structure is more than just a visual centerpiece; it serves as a hub for players to place their critter cards and track their progress throughout the game. The Evertree adds a touch of magic to the game, making it feel like you’re truly building a thriving city beneath its boughs.

As players work to establish their new cities, they place critter cards on the Evertree, symbolizing the growth and development of their bustling metropolis. While the Evertree itself doesn’t have functional gameplay mechanics, it provides a constant reminder of the game’s objective: to build the most prosperous city before the winter moon rises. Each new critter card placed on the Evertree can offer additional resources, special abilities, and those all-important victory points.

The Evertree is a unique mechanic that sets Everdell apart from other board games. Its presence on the table is both charming and immersive, drawing players into the enchanting world of forest critters. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the world of board games, the Evertree is sure to captivate and engage you, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to your Everdell experience.

Everdell vs. Other Board Games

Everdell Board Game is a standout in the world of board games, combining elements of worker placement, engine-building, and tableau-building into a cohesive and engaging experience. While it shares some similarities with other popular games, Everdell distinguishes itself with its charming theme, beautiful artwork, and unique gameplay mechanics.

One of the key aspects that sets Everdell apart is its focus on city-building. Players must gather resources, construct buildings, and recruit critters to create a thriving metropolis. This emphasis on building a bustling city is a refreshing change from other games that might focus more on exploration, combat, or puzzle-solving.

The worker placement mechanic in Everdell adds a strategic layer to the game. Players place their workers on various board locations to gather resources, construct buildings, and recruit critters. This requires careful planning and resource management, as players must optimize their worker placement to maximize their city’s growth and success.

Everdell’s stunning artwork and immersive theme further elevate the game. The illustrations of critters, buildings, and landscapes are beautifully detailed, bringing the whimsical world of Everdell to life. The theme of building a city in a magical forest setting is engaging and adds a sense of wonder to the gameplay.

When compared to other board games like Ticket to Ride and Wingspan, Everdell holds its own with its unique blend of mechanics and theme. While Ticket to Ride focuses on route-building and Wingspan on bird collection, Everdell’s city-building and worker placement mechanics offer a different kind of strategic challenge. If you enjoy these games, Everdell Board Game is likely to be a great addition to your collection.

Everdell is suitable for players aged 10 and above, making it a family-friendly option. Younger players may need some assistance with reading, but the game’s simplified mechanics make it accessible to new players. It’s a great introduction to the worker placement genre, offering a balance of strategy and fun.

Overall, Everdell is a must-play for fans of board games. Its beautiful artwork, engaging gameplay, and immersive theme make it a standout in the genre. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to the hobby, Everdell Board Game offers a unique and delightful gaming experience.

Summary: Victory Points

• Beautiful artwork

• Great game components

• Solid gameplay

• Thematically brilliant

• Plenty of expansions to try
  

Final Verdict

Everdell Board Game is a really impressive game on a number of levels. The standout features are definitely in it’s aesthetics, from it’s unique immersive board, to it’s well crated components, to it’s incredible artwork, everything has been crafted impressively and helps set the scene thematically. It offers a solid worker placement experience and whilst nothing complicated, it’s certainly not an intimidating game and is a good one to introduce new player to. Once the 3-D board is set-up, the game doesn’t take long to play, averaging at around an hour. With plenty of cards and expansion to try, there’s a good level of replay value with the game, and after playing it once, we’re sure you’ll want to play it often.

Who Should Buy This Game?

We think you should buy Everdell Board Game if:

You like good-looking games: Everything in Everdell board game is bursting with personality and looks incredible, especially the artwork on the cards. 

You like strategy games: A simple but well-balanced worker placement game, Everdell offers something for both experienced and new gamers. 

You enjoy solo games: The game offers a fun solo version for those not able to gather friends together or for those looking for a challenge. 

You like theme with your games: Everything coming together with this game really puts you in the centre of it all and as your city expands really makes you feel like you live there.   

You might not like Everdell Board Game if: 

You want something more serious: Although the theme shouldn’t discourage players from giving it a try, we understand cutesy forest dwelling critter games aren’t for everybody, so this may not be for you if that’s the case. 

You want a game with more moving parts:  Although Everdell does boast solid gameplay mechanics, it’s not as in depth as some strategy games out there. If you want something that will take up your whole afternoon, this might not be the game for you. 

FAQ about Everdell Board Game