Scythe Board Game Review
Scythe is a strategic board game designed by Jamey Stegmaier and published by Stonemaier Games in 2016. Set in an alternate-history 1920s Eastern Europe filled with giant mechs and powerful factions, this game stands out for its combination of economic engine-building, territorial control, and asymmetric player powers. Players control one of five unique factions competing to claim their fortune around the mysterious Factory.
This dieselpunk masterpiece supports 1-5 players, requires about 115 minutes to play, and targets ages 14 and up. The game features beautiful artwork by Jakub Rozalski and has won numerous awards including the Golden Geek Board Game of the Year in 2016.
Scythe Game Overview
Scythe drops players into a post-war Europa where nations rebuild their economies while eyeing the abandoned Factory at the map’s center. Each faction starts with different resources, abilities, and strategic positions.
The game combines resource management with territorial expansion. Players move workers to gather materials, build structures, recruit soldiers, and deploy towering mechs across the hexagonal board.
Victory comes from accumulating points through territory control, achieving objectives, winning battles, and building an efficient economic engine. The game ends when a player places their sixth achievement star.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Jamey Stegmaier |
| Publisher | Stonemaier Games |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Players | 1-5 |
| Age Range | 14+ |
| Playing Time | 115 minutes |
| Game Type | Strategy, Engine-Building, Area Control |
| Complexity Rating | 3.45 / 5 |
What’s in the Box: Scythe Components
Scythe includes premium components that match its high production values. The game box contains everything needed for epic battles across Europa.
The main game board depicts Eastern Europe with detailed territory hexes, rivers, and the central Factory. Each hex shows specific terrain types that affect gameplay.
Players receive dual-layered player mats featuring recessed spaces for resources and action tracking. These mats are practical and visually striking, showing exactly where to place tokens.
| Component | Quantity/Description |
|---|---|
| Game Board | 1 large hexagonal map |
| Faction Mats | 5 unique faction boards |
| Player Mats | 5 dual-layered mats |
| Miniatures | 80+ plastic figures (workers, mechs, character) |
| Resource Tokens | Wood, metal, food, oil |
| Coins | Cardboard currency tokens |
| Cards | Combat, objective, encounter, and factory cards |
| Various Markers | Popularity, power, achievement stars |
The miniatures stand out as exceptional quality. Each faction receives unique mech designs that reflect their cultural aesthetic. Worker meeples are simple but functional.
Resource tokens use thick cardboard with clear iconography. The different resources are easy to distinguish during play.
Combat cards feature stunning artwork and clear numerical values. Encounter cards provide narrative moments with multiple choice options.
Scythe Pros and Cons
Every game has strengths and weaknesses. Here’s an honest assessment based on gameplay experience.
Pros
- Asymmetric factions create unique strategic approaches and high replayability
- Streamlined action selection keeps gameplay moving without traditional phases or rounds
- Beautiful artwork and premium components enhance the tabletop experience
- Engine-building mechanics provide satisfying progression throughout the game
- Combat system allows peaceful economic victory paths alongside aggressive strategies
- Solo mode with Automa deck offers challenging single-player experience
Cons
- Initial rules complexity can overwhelm new players during first session
- Combat occurs less frequently than the mech theme suggests
- Player interaction feels limited outside combat encounters
- Premium price point may deter budget-conscious buyers
- Setup and teardown require significant table space and time
How to Play Scythe
Scythe uses a streamlined action selection system without rounds or phases. Players take turns choosing actions until someone triggers the end condition.
Setup
Each player selects a faction mat and receives a matching player mat. Faction mats determine starting positions, special abilities, and mech powers. Player mats show economic actions and upgrade paths.
Place your character and two workers on your faction’s home territory. Take starting resources based on your player mat configuration.
Draw one objective card and keep it hidden. Place the popularity, power, and coin markers at their starting positions. Shuffle encounter cards and place them near the board.
Turn Structure
On your turn, choose one section of your player mat to activate. Each section contains a top-row action and an optional bottom-row action. You must take the top action but can skip the bottom action.
Top-row actions include moving units, gaining coins, trading resources for popularity, and producing resources on controlled territories. These actions improve as you upgrade them throughout the game.
Bottom-row actions let you upgrade future actions, deploy mechs, build structures, or enlist recruits. These require resource payments but provide permanent benefits.
After completing your actions, the next player takes their turn. The game continues clockwise around the table.
Movement and Territory Control
Workers move to adjacent territories to produce resources or encounter civilians. Mechs move similarly but can cross rivers once upgraded and can transport workers.
Your character moves independently and can explore new territories. Landing on encounter spaces triggers event cards with multiple choice options.
Controlling territories with workers or structures grants resources during production actions. More territory means more production capacity.
Combat Resolution
Combat occurs when units from different factions occupy the same territory. Both players secretly select a power value and optionally play combat cards from their hands.
Add your power dial value to your combat card strength. The higher total wins. Winners gain achievement stars and territory control. Losers retreat their units.
Combat impacts popularity based on whether you won against workers. Attacking civilian workers reduces your standing with the people.
Winning the Game
The game ends immediately when one player places their sixth achievement star. Stars come from winning combat, completing objectives, maxing popularity or power, deploying all mechs, building all structures, or enlisting all recruits.
Players count coins, score territory and resources based on popularity tier, and add objective bonuses. Highest total wins.
Where to Buy Scythe
Scythe is widely available through multiple retailers. Here are common purchasing options.
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Standard retail edition with Prime shipping |
| Stonemaier Games | Direct from publisher, occasional special editions |
| Miniature Market | Competitive pricing, frequent sales |
| Game Nerdz | Discounted prices, customer holds |
| Local Game Stores | Support local businesses, immediate availability |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies, collector’s editions |
Scythe Game Mechanics
Scythe combines several mechanics into a cohesive experience. Understanding how these systems interact helps players develop effective strategies.
The action selection mechanism drives the entire game. Each player mat shows four action pairs arranged differently. This asymmetry forces players to plan action sequences carefully. You cannot repeat the same action pair on consecutive turns.
Engine-building forms the core progression system. Upgrading actions reduces costs and increases benefits, creating efficiency improvements over time. Similar to other strategy board games, early investments pay dividends throughout the session.
Area control determines production capacity and end-game scoring. Controlling more territories generates more resources during production actions. Structures provide permanent control even without workers present.
Resource management requires balancing four different materials. Each action costs specific resources, and converting between types happens through trading actions.
The popularity track acts as a scoring multiplier at game end. Higher popularity increases the value of territories and resources, making peaceful actions strategically valuable.
Combat uses a power bidding system rather than dice. Players invest power tokens and combat cards to win battles. This creates tension without random outcomes.
Asymmetric powers give each faction unique abilities. These powers break standard rules in specific ways, creating distinct playstyles and strategic paths.
Who Should Play Scythe
Scythe appeals to players who enjoy strategic depth and long-term planning. The game rewards careful resource management and efficient action sequences.
Fans of engine-building games will appreciate the upgrade paths and efficiency improvements. Each action becomes more powerful as you invest in your economy.
Players who prefer multiple victory paths find value in Scythe’s flexible objectives. You can win through combat dominance, peaceful expansion, or balanced approaches. Similar to games featured in our best 4 player board games list, this title shines with four participants who understand strategic timing.
Groups that appreciate asymmetric gameplay will enjoy the distinct factions. Each faction plays differently enough to encourage exploring multiple strategies across sessions.
Solo gamers find robust single-player content through the Automa opponent. The AI deck provides challenging competition without requiring human opponents.
The game works best with players comfortable with medium-heavy complexity. New gamers may struggle with the initial rules density, though the actual gameplay flows smoothly after the first session.
Players seeking constant direct conflict might find Scythe disappointing. Combat happens infrequently compared to economic actions. The game focuses more on territory efficiency than aggressive battles.
Groups without dedicated game time should reconsider. Setup, teaching, and teardown add significant time to the 115-minute playtime. Casual groups might prefer lighter options.
FAQ
Is Scythe good for beginners?
Scythe has moderate complexity that can overwhelm complete beginners. The rules take time to learn, but gameplay flows smoothly after the first session. New players benefit from experienced teachers who can explain the action selection system. Consider starting with lighter games before introducing Scythe to your group.
How long does Scythe take to play?
Scythe typically takes 90-120 minutes with experienced players. First games often run longer as players learn optimal strategies and action sequencing. Two-player games finish faster, while five-player sessions can extend beyond two hours. Setup and teardown add another 15-20 minutes to the total session time.
What’s the best player count for Scythe?
Scythe plays best with three to four players. These counts provide good territory competition without excessive downtime. Five players creates a crowded board with frequent interactions. Two players works well but reduces territorial pressure. The solo mode offers solid single-player content through the Automa system.
Is Scythe worth buying?
Scythe justifies its premium price through high-quality components, asymmetric factions, and strong replayability. Players who enjoy engine-building and strategic planning find excellent value. The game delivers hundreds of hours of content across different factions and strategies. However, groups preferring lighter games or heavy combat should look elsewhere.
What games are similar to Scythe?
Scythe shares mechanics with Terraforming Mars for engine-building, similar to what you’d find in popular Kickstarter board games. It resembles Eclipse for territory control and asymmetric powers. Viticulture, also from Stonemaier Games, uses similar action selection but focuses on wine production. Fans of worker placement games might also enjoy these related titles.
