Earthborne Rangers Board Game Review
Earthborne Rangers, designed by Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, launched in 2023 from Earthborne Games. This cooperative card game takes one to four players into a far-future wilderness where nature has reclaimed civilization. Sessions run 60 to 240 minutes with a 12+ age recommendation. This review examines what makes Earthborne Rangers stand out among cooperative adventure board games.
Earthborne Rangers Overview
Players become Rangers protecting a mountain valley transformed by ancient scientific marvels designed to save Earth centuries ago. The setting blends post-apocalyptic recovery with environmental optimism.
Each game session represents a single day in the Valley. Your Ranger picks up where they rested and continues exploring until fatigue forces rest or you call it a night.
The open-world structure grants genuine player agency. You decide where to explore and which characters to help. Your choices shape both immediate sessions and the broader campaign narrative.
| Designer | Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Earthborne Games |
| Year Released | 2023 |
| Players | 1-4 |
| Age Range | 12+ |
| Playing Time | 60-240 Minutes |
| Game Type | Cooperative Campaign Card Game |
| Complexity Rating | 3.47 / 5 |
What’s in the Earthborne Rangers Box
The core set contains substantial content for extended campaign play. Card quality holds up well to repeated shuffling. Artwork from Joe Banner and Evan Simonet reinforces the hopeful, nature-reclaimed setting.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Ranger Cards | Character decks representing different backgrounds |
| Path Cards | Deck customization for character progression |
| World Cards | Locations, creatures, and events encountered during play |
| Campaign Materials | Story booklets with branching narrative content |
| Valley Map | Large map showing explorable regions |
Earthborne Rangers Pros and Cons
- Open-world structure allows genuine player agency
- Deck building reflects character development meaningfully
- Environmental theme feels fresh and optimistic
- Strong solo mode handles smoothly
- Branching narrative offers substantial replay value
- Variable session length complicates scheduling
- Initial rules learning takes time investment
- Card management demands careful organization
- Premium price point may deter some buyers
How to Play Earthborne Rangers
Before your first session, you construct a deck reflecting your Ranger’s background and personality. This initial build shapes how you interact with the Valley throughout the campaign.
Setup and Deck Construction
Select a Ranger background that determines your starting cards. Add path cards representing skills, equipment, and personal traits. As your story progresses, you add memory cards representing experiences.
Turn Structure
Sessions play out in rounds. On your turn, perform one action by playing a card from your hand or activating an action from a card already in play. After player actions, the Valley responds with predators hunting and weather shifting.
Ending a Session
Your day concludes when fatigue accumulates, injuries overwhelm you, or you choose to camp. Your map position carries forward to the next session.
Where to Buy Earthborne Rangers
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Meeples Corner | UK-based with international shipping |
| Game Nerdz | US retailer with competitive pricing |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies available |
| BoardGameGeek Market | Direct sales from collectors |
Expansions include Legacy of the Ancestors, Moments on the Path, and Stewards of the Valley.
Earthborne Rangers Game Mechanics
Deck construction happens before campaign play and evolves throughout. Your card choices shape your Ranger’s capabilities and determine which challenges you overcome.
Card play resolves conflicts. Your hand determines available responses to any situation. Hand management becomes crucial since cards serve multiple purposes.
Cooperative elements emerge through shared challenges. The narrative choice system drives the campaign forward, with decisions affecting missions and relationships. This appeals to fans of cooperative storytelling games.
Who Should Play Earthborne Rangers
Earthborne Rangers fits players seeking immersive campaign experiences with genuine agency.
Solo players find excellent value here. The game handles smoothly with a single Ranger, making it ideal for solo board game enthusiasts. Fans of cooperative RPG board games will recognize familiar satisfactions.
If your collection includes Sleeping Gods or Arkham Horror: The Card Game and you want an environmental theme, Earthborne Rangers fills that niche among best cooperative board games.
FAQ
Is Earthborne Rangers good for beginners?
Earthborne Rangers carries medium-heavy complexity. Deck construction and card management require understanding before smooth play develops. Experienced gamers adapt faster, but beginners should expect several learning sessions.
How long does Earthborne Rangers take to play?
Sessions range from 60 to 240 minutes depending on player count and exploration choices. Solo play trends shorter while four-player groups extend toward the upper range. The full campaign spans many sessions.
What is the best player count for Earthborne Rangers?
Solo and two-player configurations offer the smoothest experiences with manageable session lengths. Three and four players work well but extend play time. The game scales appropriately across all counts.
Is Earthborne Rangers worth buying?
Groups seeking substantial campaign content with replay value get excellent return on investment. The content justifies the premium price for committed players. Casual players preferring shorter games may find the commitment harder to justify.
What games are similar to Earthborne Rangers?
Arkham Horror: The Card Game shares the customizable cooperative structure with campaign progression. Sleeping Gods offers similar open-world exploration. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game provides comparable deck construction elements.
